Irene Chirwa Mambilima was Zambia’s first woman Chief Justice who was appointed on February 26, 2015. Justice Mambilima was educated at the University of Zambia, where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree. Following her baccalaureate education, she attended the University of London to receive her Master of Laws degree. Justice Mambilima was then admitted to the bar in 1977.

Directly following her admittance to the bar, she served in the Attorney General’s office as a State Advocate and a Senior State Advocate from 1977 to 1984. She was simultaneously the Director of the Legal Aid Department in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which has been renamed the Ministry of Justice. For her career beginnings, she joined the judiciary in Zambia in 1985 and served as a Commissioner for the High Court. In 1989, Justice Mambilima became the Judge of the High Court until 2002. Additionally, Justice Mambilima was appointed as the Judge-in-Charge for the Lusaka High Court in 1996 and subsequently, Judge-in-Charge of the High Court Commercial List in 2000. From 1994 until 1996, she was concurrently a member of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

It was in 2000 that she was appointed to be a Judge of the Supreme Court though she was not ratified and confirmed until 2002. In 2003, Justice Mambilima became a Sessional Judge for the Supreme Court of The Gambia for one year. Between 2005 and 2015, Justice Mambilima became the Chairperson for the ECZ twice and presided over the 2006, 2011, and 2015 elections respectively. Justice Mambilima served as the Deputy Chief Justice for the Republic of Zambia from 2008 to 2015. Following her time as Deputy Chief Justice, she was elected to the position of Chief Justice for the Supreme Court in the Republic of Zambia in 2015 and continued to serve in this role until her untimely passing in June 2021.

In addition to her professional life, Justice Mambilima was the Chairperson for the Zambian Council of Law Reporting, a board member for the Child Fund Zambia Board, and also served on the Advisory Board for Women in Law Southern Africa.

Irene Chirwa Mambilima was Zambia’s first woman Chief Justice who was appointed on February 26, 2015. Justice Mambilima was educated at the University of Zambia, where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree. Following her baccalaureate education, she attended the University of London to receive her Master of Laws degree. Justice Mambilima was then admitted to the bar in 1977. Directly following her admittance to the bar, she served in the Attorney General’s office as a State Advocate and a Senior State Advocate from 1977 to 1984. She was simultaneously the Director of the Legal Aid Department in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which has been renamed the Ministry of Justice. For her career beginnings, she joined the judiciary in Zambia in 1985 and served as a Commissioner for the High Court. In 1989, Justice Mambilima became the Judge of the High Court until 2002. Additionally, Justice Mambilima was appointed as the Judge-in-Charge for the Lusaka High Court in 1996 and subsequently, Judge-in-Charge of the High Court Commercial List in 2000. From 1994 until 1996, she was concurrently a member of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). It was in 2000 that she was appointed to be a Judge of the Supreme Court though she was not ratified and confirmed until 2002. In 2003, Justice Mambilima became a Sessional Judge for the Supreme Court of The Gambia for one year. Between 2005 and 2015, Justice Mambilima became the Chairperson for the ECZ twice and presided over the 2006, 2011, and 2015 elections respectively. Justice Mambilima served as the Deputy Chief Justice for the Republic of Zambia from 2008 to 2015. Following her time as Deputy Chief Justice, she was elected to the position of Chief Justice for the Supreme Court in the Republic of Zambia in 2015 and continued to serve in this role until her untimely passing in June 2021. In addition to her professional life, Justice Mambilima was the Chairperson for the Zambian Council of Law Reporting, a board member for the Child Fund Zambia Board, and also served on the Advisory Board for Women in Law Southern Africa.