Judiciary of Zambia

The Judiciary of Zambia is the branch of the Government of the Republic of Zambia which interprets and applies the laws of Zambia to ensure impartial justice under law and to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution. Under the Constitution of Zambia, Justices and Magistrates are independent of the government and subject only to the Constitution and the law.

According to the constitution the structure of the judicature shall comprise the Supreme Court of Zambia, the High Court of Zambia, the Industrial Relations Court, the Subordinate Court, the Local Court and such lower Courts as may be prescribed by an Act of Parliament.

The functions of the Judiciary include the administration of justice through resolving disputes between individuals or between individual and the state, interpreting the constitution and the laws of Zambia, promoting the rule of law, and protecting the human rights of individuals and groups.

The Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court are appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, subject to ratification by the National Assembly. The Magistrates who preside over Subordinate Courts are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, acting in the name of the President. Judges may only be removed from office for inability to perform the functions of office (whether due to infirmity of body or mind, incompetence or misbehaviour) but must retire on reaching the age of sixty-five.