LUSAKA - Chief Justice Mumba Malila says the Judiciary is fully prepared to administer justice promptly and fairly as Zambians head to the polls in this year's general election.
Speaking at the official opening of the Electoral Dispute Resolution Training in Lusaka, Dr. Malila said the programme marks the culmination of a three-year effort by the Judiciary to strengthen its capacity to discharge one of its most important constitutional responsibilities - the fair, impartial and timely resolution of electoral disputes.
He said the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Election Management in 2023 was intended to ensure that electoral dispute resolution is treated as a permanent institutional responsibility requiring continuous planning, preparation and capacity building.
Dr. Malila noted that over the past two election cycles, the Judiciary has maintained a strong record of diligence and timely adjudication without systemic delays.
However, he cautioned against complacency, saying previous success should not diminish the need for continued preparedness.
The Chief Justice added that the demands on the Judiciary have increased following the recent delimitation exercise, which created 70 additional constituencies, as well as the introduction of the mixed-member proportional representation system and other constitutional amendments that could increase the volume and complexity of electoral litigation.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Chief Justice's Advisory Committee on Election Management, Justice Maria Kawimbe, said the Judiciary has implemented a comprehensive three-year programme to strengthen Zambia's electoral justice resolution mechanism ahead of the general election.
Justice Kawimbe said the training is the final phase of a series of capacity-building initiatives undertaken since June 2026 to ensure that adjudicators, tribunal members and court staff involved in electoral dispute resolution are fully prepared.