Linda Kasonde
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Linda Kasonde (born 1978) is a Zambian lawyer and human rights activist. She is notable for being the first woman elected as President of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) in 2016. Kasonde is the founder and Executive Director of Chapter One Foundation, a civil society organization that promotes human rights and constitutionalism in Zambia.
Early life and education
Kasonde was born in Lusaka, Zambia. She attended Waterford Kamhlaba United World College in Eswatini, an institution known for its emphasis on multi-racialism and social justice. She earned her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Leicester in 2000 and was admitted to the Zambian Bar in 2001. In 2007, she obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of Cape Town, focusing on commercial law.
Legal career
After her admission to the bar, Kasonde began her legal career at the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women. In 2004, she joined Mulenga Mundashi & Company, where she became the first woman in Zambia to be promoted to named partner in an established and internationally recognized law firm.
In April 2016, Kasonde was elected President of the Law Association of Zambia, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the association's history. During her tenure, she was known for her strong stance on defending constitutional democracy, civil liberties, and the rule of law. Her leadership attracted both support and criticism, with some government representatives accusing her of being overly political. She completed her term in April 2018 and chose not to seek re-election.
Chapter One Foundation
In September 2019, Kasonde founded Chapter One Foundation, a civil society organization aimed at promoting and protecting human rights, constitutionalism, and the rule of law in Zambia through strategic litigation and advocacy.
Other roles and recognition
In April 2019, Kasonde was elected Vice-President for Africa of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, becoming the first Zambian woman to hold that position.
She is also the founder of LCK Chambers, a law firm she established in May 2019.
Kasonde has received several awards, including the IE University’s Extraordinary People Inspiring the IE Community (EPIC) Award in the 'Women Inspiring Women' category in 2017, and the Zambia Society for Public Administration’s Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima Distinguished Award in 2016.
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