Today, 20th February 2025, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, S.C., the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), played a central role at the historic launch of the Mobile Prison Courts. This event unveiled a transformative alliance with the Judiciary of Zambia, Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS), the Legal Aid Board (LAB), Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), and the National Prosecution Authority (NPA). This groundbreaking initiative aims to address the critical issue of prison and correctional inmate overpopulation within Zambia through the establishment of Mobile Courts.
The Mobile courts are intended to bring justice closer to inmates by having matters such as bail applications, variation of bail conditions, and setting of trial and judgment dates conducted in the correctional facilities. This entails judicial staff such as the Magistrates and Judges being accompanied by Prosecutors and Legal Aid Officers to sit and conduct hearings in the correctional facilities. The Mobile Courts initiative is a strategic intervention designed to expedite legal proceedings, ensuring that bail applications and setting of hearing dates among other applications are dealt with swiftly while simultaneously reducing the strain on the correctional facilities. The DPP mentioned that this model is especially important to indigent persons who may not have recourse to legal representation.
The DPP stated that the establishment of Mobile Courts is a proactive and transformative measure which will streamline legal proceedings and alleviate the backlog of cases contributing to prison congestion.
The DPP reiterated his firm commitment to the scheme and commended the Judiciary, Zambia Corrections Service, and the Legal Aid Board who are the key government actors in the pilot scheme for their unwavering support in the project. He further extended his gratitude to the Embassy of Ireland and the Irish Rule of Law International for their technical and financial support which was pivotal in bringing the project to life.
He concluded by saying that this scheme should not only be on paper or end at the pilot stage but, that it should roll out to all parts of Zambia with the goal of enhancing access to justice for persons who come into conflict with the law.
