A Dash of Inspiration-Justice Florence Mumba

Dear Rookie Advocate, 

Having just ended Black History month and starting International Women’s month, we thought now is a good time to shine our Rock-Star torch. The name Florence Mumba is such a common combination of names here in Zambia. I was surprised at how many different Florence Mumbas pop up in a google search. But our Rock-Star torch is being shone on the Honourable Justice Madam Florence Ndepele Mwachande Mumba. Doing research on her brought to mind the phrase ‘getting things done’ because her career history shows exactly that of her. A woman who has got things done and bloomed wherever she has been planted. 

Justice Florence Mumba is a Judge of the Supreme Court Extra Ordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, also known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal or the Cambodia Tribunal, a position to which she was appointed in 2009, first as a reserve Judge and later as a full time Judge. In 1997 she was elected Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, serving as Vice President of the Tribunal from 1999 to 2001. From 2003 to 2005, she served on the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and also served on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. We could end the article here and you’d have totally understood why ‘we stan’. 

But for all you doubting Thomases, or if you just want more inspiration, here it comes;

Justice Mumba was born in 1948, served in private practice at age 25 until 1980. At age 32 she was appointed the very first lady Judge of the High Court for Zambia. Again, we could end it here because really, this is enough to inspire, but there’s more to Justice Mumba and we are here for all of it. In 1985 she represented Zambia at the Conference on Women in Nairobi and at the African Regional Conference on Women in 1994. 

Justice Mumba was appointed to the office of the Investigator General (Ombudsman (Ombudswoman?) in 1989, a position in which she served until 1997 when she was appointed to the Zambian Supreme Court bench. As Ombudsman, she also served as Director on the International Ombudsman Institute Board from 1992 where she was elected as Vice-President of that board until 1996. 

I hear you shouting for more accolades and achievements. Calm down, we gat this. In 1992, as a member of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Justice Mumba participated in drafting a resolution to the UN General Assembly, to have rape included as a war crime in the jurisdiction of war crimes tribunals. From August 2008 to January 2011 she served as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia. 

We chose to bring to your attention this Rock-Star for inspiration and some thought provoking. What does your CV look like? What have you done for humanity? One of my favorite State Counsel said some of the most fulfilling moments of his career have been the Thank Yous he has received from the people he represented pro bono. What story are you building to be told of your career? 

What eulogy do you want to be given at your valedictory service? It really isn’t too soon to be thinking through these things. And I hope you think about them long and hard, then begin to chart your way into achieving them. 

Happy International Women’s Month.

Edwina