Chief Justice Ireen Chirwa Mambilima has died.
Secretary to Cabinet Dr Simon Miti announced the untimely passing of Chief Justice Mambilima today , 20th June 2021, at approximately 17hrs in a private hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Dr Miti said Justice Mambilima had travelled to Cairo on 10th June,2021 on official business and fell ill whilst on duty in that country.
He said further details will be availed to the nation in due course.
Justice Mambilima was Zambia’s First Female Chief Justice until her untimely death today.
She was appointed Chief Justice of the Republic of Zambia on 26th February, 2015.
Justice Mambilima had a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Zambia and a Master of Laws degree from the University of London.She was admitted to the bar in 1977.
Prior to her appointment, Justice Mambilima served as Deputy Chief Justice from 2008 to 2015.
Justice Mambilima served in various positions in the Judiciary since she first joined as a Commissioner of the High Court in 1985.
She served as a Judge of the High Court from 1989 to 2002.
Justice Mambilima was appointed Judge-in-Charge of the Lusaka High Court in 1996 and subsequently, Judge-in-Charge of the High Court Commercial List in 2000.
Later in 2000, she was appointed to act as Judge of the Supreme Court and was ratified in 2002.
Justice Mambilima has served as a Judge in another jurisdiction.In 2003, she served as Sessional Judge of the Supreme Court of the Gambia.
Justice Mambilima twice served as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) between 2005 and 2015.
During her time as Chairperson of ECZ, she presided over the 2006 and 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections and the 2015 presidential by-election.
From 1994 to 1996, Justice Mambilima served as a member of ECZ.
Justice Mambilima has participated in various election observer missions in Mozambique, Kenya, Seychelles and she led the EISA Election Observation Mission to the presidential elections in Liberia.
Before she joined the bench, Justice Mambilima served in various capacities in the government including as a State Advocate and a Senior State Advocate under the Attorney General’s Chambers from 1977 to 1984 and as the Director of the then Legal Aid department in the then Ministry of Legal Affairs now the Ministry of Justice.
Justice Mambilima was the Chairperson of the Zambian Council of Law Reporting, a statutory body established under Chapter 46 of the Laws of Zambia the position she held until her death today.
She was a Board Member on the Child Fund Zambia Board and previously served on the Advisory Board for Women in Law Southern Africa (WILSA).
Justice Mambilima was a member of a number of professional associations, including the Zambia Association of Women Judges, the International Association of Women Judges and the Southern African Chief Justices Forum.
She once served as the President of the Zambia Association of Women Judges having been elected in 2011.
I am failing to move. I have been fasting following the death of our father Kk. Now this ??? I am in shock and lost for words. God what have we done to deserve this? How can we lose so many great Patriots within short period. My people I beg you to take care and stay home when you can. This virus is here to claim lives. Do not listen to those upnd diasporans who are crying for campaigns to go ahead. They are safe their small houses abroad and want you to die because they have sad lives. Go well madam. You contributed alot to our nation. RIP. I have extended my fasting
MHSRIP ,
But a very corrupt woman……..oversaw the sewage status of the Zambian judiciary….
R.i.p madam cj
Wow ,so many upper echelon Zambians dying within weeks so who’s next ?.Under a different Chief Justice then Lungu’s eligibility is …?
May she rest in eternal peace .
My deepest condolences to the family of our late Chief Justice, Irene Mambilima. God comfort the family. Zambia has lost one of the most solid Judge. HSRIP.
MHSRIP
She had a stellar career until she got entangled with PF corruption, Forrest 27 etc
But this was the same woman that shrunk the independence of our Judiciary, Bill 10, Gassing, Fire Tenders, Unknown owner Houses, and lastly the Presidential petition was done in her own bedroom and she totally failed to guide the Country & our Judiciary corruption free, This , am sorry, i may say is a good death. Besides, KK himself died in our very own hospitals, Who is she to travel abroad for medical care? Its only that Zambians are burned from travelling abroad for anything cos of Covid otherwise you would ve heard that she died in France/China or India. They must go to the grave one by one. all of them. We ve lost alot of good people and yet these thieves are still riding on our tax money.
GO mama go. its a good riddance. Next Inonge Wina. We are tired of you professional cadres who ve destroyed our once beautiful country.
nature cleaning out the weeds of corruption… by the time corona is done the world will be a safe place
MHSRIP solid woman an inspiration to Zambian girl. Despite having free and fair elections we had cry babies like in 2015 and 2016 when someone bulldozed Mulungushi conference center barking bandibela ma voti you responded by saying if the elections have been rigged then we have stolen together because on the g12 forms contain their signatures. KZ you can recall
Lies have short legs indeed …this answers why the Gulfstream Presidential Jet was in Cairo. At times it doesn’t hurt to transparent and accountable. Ireen Mambilima tarnished her career when she went to the Judiciary and started eating with crooks and turning a blind eye to Lazy Lungu and PF corruption in the courts.
MHSRIP.
Whatever happened to that fearless Ireen Mambilima of ECZ….look what 5 years of inflated pay rises from Edgar has done to her even flights to elite foreign hospitals is not going to help these crooks.
So what happens now can the President appoint an acting Chief Justice without Parliament approval? Edgar Lungu is very desperate man at the moment
And I keep saying UPND is more violent and ruthless than PF…just from the comments they even insult the dead….and they expect HH to win elections….NEVER….clean your hearts first…thats the trick….any rest in peace Mwanawakwithu Irene Chirwa
RIP Judge Mambilima. But just wondering, the Presidential jet landed in Cairo on Wednesday night (16th June – although they say she went there on the 10th) Did this have anything to do with the business she went for in Egypt, or it was actually a trip to seek treatment? Mostly, we are never officially told, are we? The fact of the matter is the Presidential gulf stream jet flew to Cairo. Ordinarily, we should be entitled to ask questions as to why the Presidential plane flew there – and whether it was to do with sending someone for treatment or picking them up as a normal course of things? Who else, in this regard is still entitled to such treatment? What would it say about the perennial question we have had about evacuating some for treatment abroad in relation to our local health…
Whatever is done in the night comes to life in the day!
Indeed she was an inspirational to Zambia girl. Whatever happened back then, God knows better. Rest in eternal peace mother!
Mysriep Amai Choppie. I am disturbed by your passing away.
Woman of integrity. You are indeed irreplaceable
Respect her in her death. MHSRIP.
She did very well for Zambia and the Zambian girls can look up to her. ” Whoever has committed no sin, can cast a stone”
Very difficult to remain in the judiciary and not align with the ruling party.
Rest in peace our galant Chief Justice.
She refused to innaugurate Edgar in 2011 and 2016, she never recongnised the ConCourt as the ultimate in itself, she did not accept the ruling of Edgar’s eligibility risking the outcome of 2021 general elections.
So if Iwas Head of State, I would send her to Egypt and get my agents (on my private jet) to clear her.
KK and FTJ used to do that.
K Z CANNOT EAT AGAIN THROUGH SUPPOSED GRIEF
SHAME !!!!!!!!!!!!
ARE WE WORRIED
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG CALLING A SPADE A SPADE !!!!!!!!!!
WE ARE A NATION OF SINNER WHICH GIVES A RIGHT TO THROW STONES
OLD TESTAMENT
I thought when someone knows how to type they can also read and understand what they are reading. UPND supporters you are insulting an innocent person who has nothing to do with your elections loses. All the CJ does is announce the winner of elections according to total tabulations from polling stations where all participating political parties are part of the counting of votes which are put on the G12 signed by every political party.
Further if theres any corrupt people regarding the elections results then its UPND representatives who sellout their party during the counting of votes. They are bought then to sign low votes on the G12 for HH even if he got more votes to win elections. Zambia has one of the most transparent elections system. Anyone who wants to win elections in Zambia must invest in PVT. Once you do that if genuinely more people voted for you, you win. If not it’s a genuine loss.
Dominion is very right!
All including PF, PROTECT YOUR VOTE!!!
PROTECT YOUR VOTE!!
The Chief Justice died in Egypt while on official duty. The way Mwanawasa fell ill and died while on duty in the same country. May her soul rest in peace
It’s clear that those of us who believe that our common humanity matters hv a lot of work to do. Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima was in duty in Egypt. She fell ill there. She’s not a member of the Constitutional Court and cannot be blamed for whatever the court does. There’s a grieving family now please remember them in your thoughts.
If HH or Lungu dies today I will never insult them instead i will ask the God Lord to receive their beautiful souls…..from UPND comments…this explains alot of what UPND is all about…full of hate and vengeance….and there’s no way Zambians would vote for such characters….NEVER……they should be ashamed of themselves…..HATE WILL NEVER WIN YOU ANY ELECTIONS….SUBSTITUTE HATE WITH LOVE and watch how your lives will be transformed….
Lets strike a balance, last week just after announcement of demise of our first Republican President Super KEN, I stated that we should expect more deaths of our prominent people based on the fact most of them have lived beyond the life expectancy of Zambians and some have survived up to now been suffering from a lot ailments depending on medications day in day out. Just make a simple evaluation of most of them they are in their late 60., early 70’s or 80’s. Reason most of them found it difficult to live far away from Lusaka due to availability of health services. As for JC Ireen Chirwa Mambilima, I have known her for a long time and will not comment further than my heart going out to her family and wish them God’s strength during this trying moment. As for the husband Major…
Sad development. Anyway, under her watch, 3rd term, political court persecutions etc.
Am hurt by the death announcement of Ireen Mambilima. They could have announced to me also that Mambilima is sick not just announcing that she is dead. I sense something fish here. Maybe somebody is trying to clear the path for a corrupt chief justice to swear him in a the expense of the judicial system.
Somebody may have have cleared her off deliberately.
@Anonymous-That’s upnd for you. The backlash of a upnd GRZ would be terrible. If you thought the FTJ and co. persecutions were bad, the upnd vengeance would be horrendous. My neighbor who supports upnd was gleaming with joy when talking about Hon. Mambilima. These are heartless people. Beware and vote wisely.
Good riddance. She can take her crooked mind to the grave.
How do you tell if a comment is from a UPND supporter, PF supporter Socialist Party suporter, DP supporter, MMD supporter, UNIP supporter or indeed PEP supporter? Iam asking this question because some bloggers are attaching negative comments to UPND.
Trouble with Zambian Journalism:
When someone dies,you just don’t write about about her work CV.You include where somebody was born, when, what schools they attended and survived by talks about their family.
THIS HAS TO BE TYHE BEST POST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nature cleaning out the weeds of corruption… by the time corona is done the world will be a safe place
IF YOU FOLLOW THE BLOGS DAY BY DAY OR WEEK BY WEEK AND MONTH BY MONTH
A PATTERN FORMS AND WITH CERTAINTY ONE CAN TELL WHICH BLOOGER IS ALLIGNED TO WHO
A SIMPLE QUESTION
IF A CROOK IN LIFE, DOES ONE A SAINT/ANGEL IN DEATH ??
THIS IS NOT REFERRING TO THE LADY OR ANYONE IN PARTICULAR
@35 PM
Easy to tell….whenever you see hate 99.99%….that comment is from UPND…..this is the fact…..doom and gloom….thats what drives UPND….they’re a violent bunch of ruthless and heartless souls…..i will take a Bandit any time of the day than someone who’s full of hate….most bandits have a good heart…look at Jay Jay in Petauke….
It’s a very sad development. She’s died at very critical time when we needed her counsel the most. Only God Almighty knows why certain things happen this way
Anonymous Do you even know the meaning of religion ??
God is in your mind pure and simple and that’s where he should stay
There are no fluffy clouds or harps to play
From ashes to ashes and dust to dust
And that’s it lights out
@ P.M you are asking how can you know if the blogger is from which party? I will ask you this question. How can you know that this person is a woman or man? It is about the looks. And the same applies to the comments that are posted by bloggers.
@computer scientist, he will cry again this year.
Her death must be investigated even if it happened abroad. So close to elections some people may be trying to create advantage or judicial stalemate or confusion that wins them the election through a court judgment rather than the ballot. Mr President please be careful who you appoint to this position. MHSRIP
This cow thought the millions she would get from lungu to do his dirty work would pay off.
Unfortunately God had other plans for her. The gulf jet was en route to Egypt to take this cow for medical treatment.
Oh well hell awaits, I wonder when lungu is next.
They think the stumbling block is out of the way…? You will still lose 12.08.21 the final nail in the coffin…
THE DISGUSTING DISRESPECTFUL BLOGGERS ON THIS SITE ARE A BLOT ON HUMANITY. HOW DO DO SOME OF THEM GLOAT AT THE DEATH OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
MHSRIEP
AND SHE WAS A GREAT WOMAN WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF AS ZAMBIANS
“Tiyende pamodzi “song at work in Zambia.
Careful you might be Next
And am saying this again and I will say it a million times UPND and HH will NEVER rule Zambia….i said NEVER ….their hate for their fellow human beings is just on another level and they always decampaign themselves….am non Partisan but i think the devil you know is better than an Angel you don’t know…Zambians will vote Edward Chagwa Lungu and PF bandits……better than UPND devils
MHSRIP! Her greatest achievement was to resist Rupiah Banda and pass rightly power on power to the real winner Michael Sat. After that she was corrupt to the core just like many of them.
Please those who hold power, please do right by the country so you leave a positive legacy when you answer the call of nature!
So, who will be the returning officer? Who will swear in the next president? Legal minds please help
Karma has a long memory…she enabled lungu rig two elections
Kaizar zulu will be next
I have noticed people are showing mixed reactions. What caught my eyes is where “Nature is weeding out corruption.”
Some comments are more heartless, stained, immoral and devoid of cognitive reason than the corruption we find in other people. There will come a time you shall wish Mambilima never died.
The same madness was shown when two MP’s died of covid19 last year and parley was shut
i dont know wee we are going people can insult the dead and wish others to die becouse of politics God help us in Zambia
What Govt Official Duty did CJ Irene Mambilima travel to Egypt for? Was it a One Woman delegation? What meeting did she attend? The Presidential Gulf Stream was tracked landing in Cairo Egypt on 16th June .Is there any connection between the plane travel and death of CJ?