Lusaka | July 20, 2026 -Friday’s daily morning briefing was expected to follow its familiar routine of case allocations, operational updates and prosecutorial business.

Instead, officers and members of staff of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) Lusaka Province transformed the gathering into something altogether different, a moment that spoke not of courtrooms and case files, but of gratitude, legacy and enduring camaraderie.

The National Prosecution Authority had already formally bid farewell to all five of its newly appointed judges. It was a fitting institutional send-off, marking a proud moment for the Authority and the officers who had ascended to the Bench.

But for Lusaka Province, the story did not end there.

For more than four years, Justice Chipola James Bako had led the province as Deputy Chief State Advocate, providing steady leadership, mentorship and a firm commitment to excellence. To the officers and staff who worked alongside him every day, the official farewell, though memorable, was never going to be personal enough.

They wanted the opportunity to honour not just the office he held, but the man whose leadership had left an indelible mark on the province.

And so, in true Lusaka Province fashion, they organised a farewell of their own.

Leading the gathering was the current Deputy Chief State Advocate, Frank Sikazwe, who set aside formal speeches in favour of something far more meaningful. Rather than dominate the programme, he invited colleagues to share their own reflections.

What followed was a moving succession of tributes.

One after another, prosecutors and members of staff rose to speak, not from prepared scripts, but from the heart. They reflected on a leader whose influence reached far beyond legal practice, a mentor who nurtured young prosecutors, a dependable colleague who led with humility and fairness, and a professional whose quiet example inspired confidence throughout the province.

Their stories painted a portrait of a man who measured success not only by victories in court, but by the people he encouraged, the standards he upheld and the culture of professionalism he helped cultivate.

The farewell then gave way to two deeply symbolic presentations.

The first was a beautifully framed keepsake bearing the signatures of every member of the Lusaka Province team, a lasting reminder that while offices may change and careers may take new paths, the bonds forged through public service endure.

The second was a collective gift, generously contributed by officers themselves. It was more than a presentation, it was a heartfelt expression of appreciation and respect from colleagues whose lives and careers had been enriched by his leadership.

Before the gathering came to a close, Mr. Sikazwe invited everyone to gather for one final photograph.

The camera’s shutter captured more than smiling faces. It preserved a chapter in the history of Lusaka Province, a moment where gratitude met pride, where one era quietly gave way to another, and where colleagues paused to celebrate a leader embarking on a higher calling.

As the ceremony concluded, staff offered prayers and words of encouragement, wishing Justice Bako wisdom, courage and God’s abundant guidance as he assumes the profound responsibility of serving on the High Court Bench.

Justice C.J. Bako now begins a new chapter in the service of justice. Yet while his courtroom has changed, one thing remains certain, he leaves Lusaka Province not behind, but with a family of prosecutors whose admiration, gratitude and loyalty will continue to accompany him.

From all the staff at the National Prosecution Authority, Lusaka Province, congratulate Justice C.J. Bako on this well-deserved elevation and wish him every success as he continues to serve the Republic with integrity, fairness and distinction.