Livingstone | March 7, 2026 – Zambia’s legal fraternity gathered in Livingstone this morning for what His Lordship Dr. Mumba Malila, SC, described as more than a conference but a moment of renewal.

Opening the Bar-Bench Conference, the Chief Justice urged judges and lawyers to reconnect not as adversaries across the courtroom divide, but as colleagues bound by a shared duty to uphold justice.

“We must be agreed that securing a safer and improved future for both legs of the legal profession is best done in the constant realisation that we have a common interest, namely, to let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

Anchoring his remarks on the theme “A Future-Ready Justice System: Safeguarding Judicial Independence and Ethical Practice in a Changing Legal Landscape,” His Lordship, Chief Justice Malila called for a decisive shift from words to action.

Judicial independence, he stressed, is not an abstract ideal, it is the very foundation of the rule of law and public confidence in the courts.

“Any erosion of the independence, integrity and reputation of the Judiciary potentially leads to the collapse of the rule of law and gives rise to impunity and authoritarianism.”

The Chief Justice acknowledged that fair critique has its place. But he drew a sharp line between constructive feedback and destructive attacks.

“Criticism that is groundless, speculative, personalised and vain, designed to strike at the heart of the independence of the judge or the court,” that, he warned, is where danger lies.

He noted with concern the rise of “unlawful social media orders” directed at judges, and the growing tendency to ridicule the bench without understanding the facts or the law.

Yet the Judiciary does not fight back.

“Silence can never be misquoted. You don’t win by arguing with the noise.”

That silence, he explained, is not weakness, it is discipline. A deliberate choice to remain above the fray, preserving the dignity and impartiality of the courts.

Turning directly to the legal profession, the Chief Justice issued a sobering challenge:

“In the past, the legal profession had traditionally taken up the cudgels and fearlessly spoken in defence of the Bench. We see less of that lately. In fact, the legal profession has chosen to maintain eloquent silence.”

He urged the Law Association of Zambia to reclaim its role as a fearless defender of judicial independence and to hold unscrupulous practitioners accountable.

“The Association’s traditional role to speak for the Judiciary when it matters should not be buried in the sepulchre of the Association’s complicit silence.”

For prosecutors in the room, the message was clear: defending the institution of justice is not optional, it is duty.

The Chief Justice also reminded the nation that courts are not mere consumers of the national budget, they are unsung stabilisers of the economy.

“Where there is no rule of law and contracts cannot be respected, businesses will suffer, and investors will not risk investing their money.”

Every unresolved dispute, he said, locks up capital and erodes confidence. A robust, efficient judiciary is therefore a fundamental pillar of investment and national growth.

In a candid closing reflection, the Chief Justice addressed a growing crisis within the legal profession itself:

“The legal profession is now experiencing an oversupply of new admissions, leading to long periods of joblessness or underemployment. Not everyone will become a practicing lawyer. It’s a wake-up call to the profession.”

The message was unmistakable: the legal profession must evolve – or be left behind.

The Bottom Line

The Chief Justice’s address was not a lecture. It was an invitation to renewal, to courage, and to a shared future where justice is not just done, but seen to be done.

“The future of justice in Zambia will depend not only on institutions, but on the discipline, integrity, and judgment of those who serve within them.”

The NPA stands with the Judiciary, not in silence, but in action.