Gender Equality in Judiciary

28 April 2011

opinion

President Banda’s resolve and promise to continue appointing more women to the bench shows his level of commitment towards attaining gender equality in the judiciary.

He is unapologetic at the fact that since assuming office in 2008, he has appointed 15 female judges and that he would continue doing so for as long as he remains president.

Zambian women have for a long time been victims of lip service from leaders in the past who have failed to put into practice their promises to close the gender gap in all spheres of governance.

It is a record breaking number that in a space of less than three years, President Banda has sworn in 15 women as judges besides themany other women who are now magistrates.

What is notable is that these women are not token appointments but arewell qualified to execute their functions just as well as their male colleagues.

It is against this that we implore the women of the bench to take seriously President Banda’s advice during the opening of the women judges’ conference that they dispense justice expeditiously which is untainted.Many a time, some cases take longer than necessary to dispose of.

This is sometimes caused either by lack of evidence, lack of witnesses andmany other factors that lead to prolonged adjournments.

But people look up to the courts for justice and fairness in disputeresolution hence the need for judges and magistrates to ensure thatthe delivery of justice is timely.Speedy delivery of justice is what judges, whether women or men should strive for at all times.

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