Irish Ambassador Urges Zambian Legal Scholars to Publish More Work
Ireland’s Ambassador to Zambia, Aidan Fitzpatrick, has encouraged Zambian legal scholars to increase the publication of books, articles, and case reviews to strengthen the country’s legal profession and inform the wider region.
Speaking at the launch of the book “The Supreme Court of Zambia at Fifty, Looking Back and Going Forward”, organised by the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) in Lusaka last Tuesday, Ambassador Fitzpatrick commended the institute for its role in producing the work.
“It is an honour to be part of this event. It is important that Zambian legal scholars build a body of scholastic work to inform and advance legal practice both in Zambia and across the region,” he said.
The Ambassador noted that the book highlights the Supreme Court’s significant role over the past fifty years, covering landmark cases in corporate law, employment contracts, alternative dispute resolution, land tenure, and religious diversity.
He praised the comprehensive contributions, including 14 articles, nine case reviews, and an interview with former Chief Justice Mathew Ngulube, describing the work as “compelling reading”.
Ambassador Fitzpatrick also reflected on the broader importance of a well-functioning legal system for peace and prosperity, quoting Martin Luther King: “There can be no justice without peace, and there can be no peace without justice.”
The publication was edited by Dr. O’Brien Kaaba, Dr. Pamela Towela Sambo, and Chanda Chungu, with contributions from more than 25 authors. The Ambassador congratulated the editors and contributors for delivering a resource he described as “vital for the legal community and for the nation.”
The event reinforced the need for Zambian legal professionals to actively contribute to scholarly literature, strengthening both national and regional legal frameworks.
