Inadequate lecturers at the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education

Mrs Justice Chibesakunda said the drop in the pass rate from 16 percent in 2009 to 2.7 percent in 2013 is of great concern and that something needs to be done to address the situation.
She said this in Lusaka yesterday after admitting to the bar 11 out of the 210 candidates who sat for examinations at ZIALE.
“The low pass rate at ZIALE calls for serious concerns. This decline shows that there is either a problem with ZIALE, universities the law students are coming from or the students themselves,” Mrs Justice Chibesakunda said.
She urged ZIALE to expeditiously address the high failure rate as it indicates that “someone is not doing the job correctly”.
Mrs Justice Chibesakunda also urged the new lawyers not to engage in professional misconduct because this negatively affects a person’s career.
“Never misappropriate or misapply your clients’ money because it is not yours. Avoid ending your career in a disastrous manner by engaging in professional misconduct,” she said.
And ZIALE director Enoch Mulembe refuted allegations that the institution has “evil” ploys of failing students on purpose as a way of maintaining the low number of lawyers admitted to the bar per year.
Mr Mulembe said ZIALE is also not happy about the high failure rate of its students because the country is in need of lawyers.
“We are more affected by the poor pass rate than the students themselves or members of the public,” he said.
Mr Mulembe also appealed to citizens to desist from attacking lecturers because the action is demeaning and demotivating.
And Law Association of Zambia vice-president George Chisanga urged the new lawyers to remain ethical for them to excel in their career.