FIRST FEMALE CHIEF JUSTICE DIES.

First female chief justice, Irene Mambilima of Zambia has died in Egypt after being taken ill while on official duty.

The news about her demise was confirmed by Zambia’s State TV, which stated that she died on Sunday, June 2.

Fell ill while on duty
The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation quoted a statement issued by President Edgar Lungu’s principal private secretary Simon Miti.

“It is with deep regret and sorrow that President of the Republic of Zambia Edgar Chagwa Lungu announces to the nation the untimely passing of Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima, Chief Justice of Zambia today on Sunday, June 20 2021, in a private hospital in Cairo, Egypt,” he stated.

According to the statement, Mambilima had travelled to Cairo on June 10 2021, on official business and fell ill while still in that country.

She died at the age of 69 and was admitted to the bar in 1977.

Served in Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)
It should be remembered that Justice Mambilima was appointed Chief Justice, the first female chief justice of Zambia, on February 26, 2015.

Prior to her appointment as Chief Justice in 2015, Mambilima was the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

While in that position, Justice Mambilima presided over the 2006 and 2011 general elections that saw the now governing Patriotic Front (PF ) dislodging the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) from power.

She held a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Zambia and a Master of Laws degree from the University of London.

Source: Tuko