OYV happy with Mambilima’s appointment as Chief Justice.

Justice Ireen Mambilima

The Operation Young Vote (OYV) has expressed happiness at President Edgar Lungu’s appointment of Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Ireen Mambilima as Chief Justice.

In a statement made available to Zambian Eye, OYV Executive Director Guess Nyirenda also described Justice Mambilima appointment as long overdue and expressed confidence that the move would bring equality before the courts.

He however stated that the new head of the judiciary will not find it easy to improve the judicial system under the current constitution.

He further appealed to President Lungu to consider appointing more young people to positions of influence.

Below is the full statement:

The appointment of Madam Justice Ireen Mambilima as Chief Justice of the Zambian Judiciary is not only long overdue but elating. Zambia has been facing challenges in the delivery of justice for some time now and we the young people are confident that the appointment of this great woman will bring real justice and the wheels of equality before the courts will move. It is clear from the way Justice Ireen Mambilima has handled herself and issues in the positions she has held before that the country comes first and the rest follow. However, good as she may be, she will not find it easy to execute her intention of improving the judicial system under the current Republican Constitution.

Chief Justice IreenMambilima kept on echoing the need for the new/better constitution during her stay at the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) even during the 2015 Presidential Election Results transmission, an indicator that the country cannot afford to delay further the enactment of the people driven constitution.

We at OYV would like to appeal to President Edgar Lungu to also consider appointing young people to positions of decision making. The young people that constitute above 68% of the national population deserve better in terms of representation. There is no better opportunity for the young people to penetrate and occupy their rightful place on the national agenda than at the time of youthful leader/President Edgar Lungu.

As OYV we are of the conviction that the involvement of young people in the governance of our country at the highest level is the route to success and prosperity for both the nationals and the nation.

Guess Nyirenda (Mr.)

Executive Director