‘Stay away from politics,’ Chief Justice Malila warns newly appointed judges

Chief Justice Mumba Malila has urged newly appointed judges to stay away from partisan politics and resist attempts to draw the Judiciary into political projects.

He warned that judges served the Constitution, not political interests, and must remain independent and impartial in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking in Lusaka during the opening of an induction workshop for 40 newly appointed judges to the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal and High Court, Justice Malila said judges must remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law despite pressure from politicians, litigants, the media and the public.

“Do not at any time procure judicial complicity in partisan projects. Yours is a responsibility far above partisan politics. There will be many occasions when you will be tempted to react politically, but as a wise judge, you will be well advised to remain silent and speak only through your judgments,” Justice Malila said.

He noted that judges would inevitably face criticism, particularly in an environment where political disputes increasingly find their way before the courts.

“You will face pressure from litigants, from politics, from the media and from the weight of expectation. Remember: you serve the Constitution, not the crowd. A judge who fears unpopular decisions abandons the very people who need the courts most,” he said.

The Chief Justice told the judges that their primary duty was to uphold the Constitution and ensure equal justice for all citizens regardless of status or wealth.

Justice Malila said public confidence in the Judiciary depended on the conduct and integrity of individual judges, warning that even a single lapse could damage institutional trust.

“Just one act of bias, one compromise on ethics, one careless word outside the courtroom can undermine years of good work. Take the Judiciary’s credibility as your personal responsibility,” he said.

He further called on the newly appointed judges to ensure the timely delivery of justice, saying delays in the disposal of cases continued to affect litigants and accused persons.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. The backlog in our courts is not an abstract statistic. It is a father waiting for custody, a trader whose goods are detained and a victim waiting for closure,” he said.

Justice Malila said the appointment of the 40 judges would help ease pressure on the courts and improve the speed and efficiency of justice delivery.

He also cautioned the judges against corruption and monetary inducements, warning them not to make justice a purchasable commodity.

Meanwhile, Judge Pixie Yangailo, Chairperson of the Chief Justice’s Advisory Committee on Training and Continuing Education, said the induction programme would expose participants to key aspects of judicial work, including ethics, accountability, court administration and court-specific jurisdictional issues.

She said the programme would also provide a platform for judges to exchange experiences and learn from colleagues across the Judiciary.

Judge Yangailo encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and take full advantage of the expertise of facilitators, describing the induction programme as an important investment in strengthening the quality, efficiency and integrity of justice delivery in Zambia.

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