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The Judiciary of Zambia says it is increasingly relying on mediation to resolve disputes, with 511 cases successfully settled through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) last year.
According to the judiciary, 1,540 matters were referred to mediation in 2025 across the High Court and Subordinate Courts in Lusaka, Ndola, Kabwe and Livingstone.
Chairperson of the Chief Justice’s Advisory Committee, Justice Abha N. Patel, said the numbers reflected growing confidence in mediation as a faster and less costly method of resolving disputes.
Speaking during the Advanced Commercial Mediation Training in Lusaka, Justice Patel said the rise in referrals followed sustained efforts to promote ADR and equip judicial officers with mediation skills.
“Statistics clearly demonstrate that mediation is playing an increasingly important role in resolving disputes in our courts,” she said.
She noted that the Industrial Relations Division of the High Court recorded the highest number of mediation referrals at 952 cases, followed by the General List with 246 and the Commercial Division with 182.
Justice Patel said the judiciary remained committed to strengthening ADR mechanisms to improve access to justice and reduce case backlogs.
“Mediation has the potential to decongest our courts, reduce the cost of litigation and promote faster resolution of disputes,” she said.
The judiciary has expanded its mediation initiatives through specialised training programmes conducted in partnership with Pepperdine University and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution to enhance adjudicators’ capacity in handling complex commercial disputes.
Professor Danny DeWalt of Pepperdine University commended Zambia for its progress in promoting ADR across Africa.
“Zambia is showing leadership in promoting mediation not only within its borders but across Africa,” he said.
The judiciary has further announced plans to expand mediation initiatives, with Mediation Settlement Week expected to be held twice a year—in August and December—to encourage more parties to resolve disputes outside the courtroom.
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