The Malawi Judiciary has been applauded for helping Zambia roll out mobile courts. Speaking at the mobile courts pilot project orientation in Lusaka on Tuesday, 24th May 2025, Judge-in-Charge for the Lusaka High Court, Honourable Justice Charles Zulu, said that the Malawi Judiciary has been key to the establishment of mobile courts in Zambia by providing legal and technical support.
Mr. Norville Connolly, whose Irish Rule of Law International has been a key partner in rolling out of the mobile courts in Zambia, echoed the above sentiments, saying that the exchange visits which the Malawi and Zambian Judiciaries have been having were instrumental in the successful rolling out of mobile courts in Zambia. Mr. Connolly added that mobile courts would go a long way to improve access to justice and reduce overcrowding of prisons in Zambia.
Known as camp courts in Malawi, mobile courts are a mechanism that is used to reduce overcrowding in prisons and to improve access to justice, especially for suspects who are on remand in prisons. Camp courts have been so successful in Malawi that Zambians decided to learn in order to implement the same in their country.
Exchange visits between Zambia and Malawi began in March 2023. Recently, representatives from the Judiciary of Zambia were in the country from 18th June 2025 for a study tour where among others they met various stakeholders on the implementation of camp courts. The Zambian delegation also had a chance to observe a camp court session involving bail applications and sentence commutations at Maula Prison.
Currently, another exchange visit is underway in Lusaka, Zambia with Malawi being represented by Honourable Justice Mzonde Mvula, Judge-in-Charge of the Criminal Division, Lilongwe, and His Honour Montfort Misunje, the Assistant Registrar of the Criminal Division, Principal Registry from 22nd June 2025 to 27th June 2025.
- 41 views