Mambilima is new Chief Justice

Justice Irene Mambilima

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Irene Mambilima has been appointed as the country’s new Chief Justice.

Justice Mambilima, whose substantive position is Deputy Chief Justice currently seconded to the ECZ as Chairperson, will take over from Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda, who retires on full benefits.

And President Edgar Lungu, who has made the appointment, has directed that Justice Chibesakunda continues in her post as Acting Chief Justice until Justice Mambilima’s appointment has been ratified.

The President Lungu’s decision is pursuant to Article 93 of the Constitution of Zambia which stipulates that the Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice shall, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by the President.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has appointed former Zambia Daily Mail Managing Director Anthony Mukwita as Zambia’s Deputy Ambassador to Sweden with immediate effect.

In another development, the Head of State has announced that President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania will visit Zambia soon for bilateral talks aimed at resolving the operational problems dogging Tazara Limited.

President Lungu says his Tanzania counterpart has informed him that as one of his last acts as President before he retires this year, he wants to see that the problems of Tazara are resolved because the asset is critical in the socio-economic development of the two countries.

The Head of State said this in the light of a major agreement signed between China and the African Union (AU) launching the high-speed train project that will connect African cities.

The agreement was signed at the just ended African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.

This is contained in a statement released to Qfm News by the President’s aid for press and public relations Amos Chanda.