The Zambian Judiciary has reaffirmed its commitment to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, with a focus on commercial mediation to enhance access to justice and reduce court backlog.
Speaking at the opening of the Advanced Commercial Mediation Training for Judges, Magistrates, Judicial Officers, and Staff, Chief Justice Mumba Malila, who was represented by Advisory Committee on Court- Annexed Mediation and Delay Reduction Justice, Abba Patel, emphasised the importance of ADR in resolving disputes in a timely and cost effective manner.
Dr Malila said the government attaches great importance to ADR and stands firm on the belief that battles are not necessarily resolved in courtrooms, but at the negotiating table.
He added that the training is a collaboration between the Zambian Judiciary and Pepperdine University’s Sudro Global Justice Institute, which is aimed at equipping judicial officers with skills to make meaningful referrals to mediation and resolve commercial disputes effectively.
The Chief Justice added that the Zambian judiciary has made significant progress in promoting ADR, with 1,540 cases referred to mediation in 2025, resulting in 511 mediated and fully settled cases.
He urged judicial officers to take the lead in promoting ADR and to refer matters to mediation more often.
“The training is part of the Judiciary’s efforts to implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Pepperdine University in March 2025, aimed at fostering judicial reforms and promoting the use of ADR in civil and criminal justice,” he said.
Pepperdine University Vice President and Chief of Staff, Danny DeWalt, has commended the Zambian Judiciary for its leadership in promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in the country.
Professor DeWalt said Zambia is leading the way in promoting ADR in Africa and the university is honoured to be partners with the Zambian Judiciary in this venture.
Professor DeWalt highlighted the strategic importance of the training, saying, “If ADR is to take hold in Zambia, it will be because of the leadership in this room,”
He also commended the Chief Justice for his vision and passion for promoting ADR.
“The Chief Justice of Zambia has been unanimously selected as the next chair of the Africa Chief Justice’s ADR Forum,” Prof DeWalt said.
He further expressed gratitude to the Zambian Judiciary for the invitation to partner in promoting ADR.
“We are deeply honoured and grateful for the opportunity to work with you,” he added.
Professor DeWalt also highlighted the next steps in the partnership, stating that his team is working on developing materials for advanced training and training of trainers, with the goal of having Zambian trainers commissioned to lead and promote ADR across the country and Africa.
