Speech by the Law Association of Zambia President on the Occasion of the Valedictory For

SPEECH BY THE LAW ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA PRESIDENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE VALEDICTORY FOR THE LATE AFRICA BRUCE MUNYAMA ON 30TH MAY 2017

My Lord, the Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa, my Lords and Ladies judges of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal and High Court here present; the bereaved family, the Learned Solicitor-General, State Counsel, Senior Counsel, learned members of the Law Association of Zambia, may I simply say fellow mourners.

Today we bid farewell to a legal luminary named Africa Bruce Munyama. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Charity and his three sons Bruce, Keith and Africa and his sixgrandchildren. By all accounts, Mr. Munyama was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He was the son of a Methodist preacher born in Southern Rhodesia in September 1938. Mr. Munyama was a brilliant yet unassuming man. He went to school at the highly celebrated Munali Boys Secondary school where he finished his school certificate. He later trained as a Barrister at the well-renowned Gray’s Inn in the 1960’s and was admitted to the Bar in 1963. He returned home afterwards in time to find and then marry his bride a week before Zambia attained its independence in1964. Hepracticed at the Ministry of Legal Affairs before becoming the first indigenous Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Legal Affairs as it was then known, where he served the government until the late 60’s. After he retired from government, he went back to practicing the law with his cousin, Mr. Edward Jack Shamwana, another distinguished and well-respected lawyer at the highly esteemed firm of Shamwana and Company. He was also the nephew of another famous Zambian, freedom fighter and politician Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, who supported him during his education.

Mr. Munyama later practiced law under the name and style of Nkwazi Chambers, becoming the first indigenous Zambian to use the word “Chambers” in the name of a law firm. According to Dr. Rodger Chongwe, one of his contemporaries, Mr. Munyama was at most times cool and collected and inspired confidence in the court room. Dr. Chongwe recalls what a pleasure it was to appear in court against him. Socially, he was known for his great sense of humour and for being an avid golfer having at one time chaired the Lusaka and Chainama Golf Clubs. He served on the boards of many public and private institutions. So well respected was he that he served on the board of Barclays Bank Zambia for thirty-two years; chairing it for ten of those years.

But Mr. Munyama will always be remembered by LAZ as having been one of the architects that transformed the Law Society of Zambia into the Law Association of Zambia. The creation of LAZ was prompted by the need to create a body that embraced lawyers from both the private and the public sector; legal practitioners as well as judges. It also created a more Zambian identityat a time when lawyers were already being trained locally. He became the first President of LAZ in 1973, having been elected by an overwhelming majority. He was also the first indigenous Zambian in our history, pre- or post-independence, to head the Bar Association. So proud of his Association was he that he remained a paid-up member of LAZ right up until his untimely demise on 26th May 2017. As the current President of LAZ, it is my honour and privilege to walk in his footsteps.

This poem by an unknown poet best sums up what his greatest legacy will be:

‘Not, How did He Die, But How Did He Live’

Not how did he die, but how did he live?

Not what did he gain, but what did he give?

These are the units to measure the worth

Of a man regardless of birth

Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?

But had he befriended those really in need?

Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,

To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?

Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,

But how many were sorry when he passed away.

Africa Bruce Munyama, we, the members of the Law Association of Zambia are very sorry to see you go. Your work lives on in and through us. Long live the legacy of Africa Bruce Munyama, long live the Law Association of Zambia!

Linda C. Kasonde

PRESIDENT