Judiciary pays tribute to judge Silungwe
Written by on July 4, 2024
Chief justice Peter Shivute has paid tribute to former Zambian chief justice Annel Silungwe, who also served as a judge of Namibia’s High Court, following his death on Sunday.
Silungwe died at the age of 88 after a period of illness, Shivute said in a statement issued by the Office of the Judiciary on Tuesday.
He remarked that Silungwe held close and strong ties with Namibia and the Namibian judiciary and has left his mark on the country’s legal community.
Shivute said throughout his tenure on the Namibian bench, Silungwe “served with dedication and distinction, earning him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and the legal community”.
Silungwe was appointed as minister of legal affairs and attorney general of Zambia in 1973.
After serving as chief justice of Zambia from 1975 to 1992, he became the first director of Namibia’s Justice Training Centre (JTC) in 1995. He held that position until 1999.
Shivute said as director of the JTC, which provides training to law graduates to prepare them for admission into the legal profession, Silungwe played a pivotal role in legal education in Namibia.
Silungwe also served as an acting judge of Namibia’s High Court and Supreme Court in 1995 and 1996 and was appointed as a substantive judge of the High Court in 1999.
In June 2003, he was appointed as the first chairperson of Namibia’s Magistrates Commission.
His last stint as an acting judge of the High Court ended in March 2009.
In November 2011, Silungwe was appointed as chairperson of a technical committee tasked with drafting a new constitution for Zambia.
The draft constitution prepared by the committee in 2013, after a process that included broad public consultations, was not adopted as the country’s supreme law, though.
Shivute also said in the statement issued on Tuesday: “Chief justice Silungwe’s legacy is one of unwavering commitment to the rule of law, excellence and profound impact. His contributions to the Namibian judiciary and legal education have left a lasting effect that will be felt for generations to come.”
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