Iuze Mukube
Namibia yesterday marked a significant milestone for gender representation in the country’s Supreme Court, with Justice Esi Malaika Schimming-Chase becoming the first woman to be permanently appointed as a judge in the Apex Court.
The taking of the oath ceremony took place at the Supreme Court and was administered by Chief Justice Peter Shivute.
Shivute stated that the taking of an oath marks a formal assumption of constitutional responsibility, and through that oath, the judicial officer commits to upholding and protecting the Constitution.
Importantly, he said, a judicial officer must adhere to administering justice without fear, favour or prejudice and safeguard the rule of law. The ceremony also reflects both the solemn duties of the judicial office and the trust the public places in the administration of justice.
He pointed out that, as is the case in many judiciaries across Africa and worldwide, the country’s jurisdiction has been marked by low representation of women on the bench post-independence.
The representation has improved significantly over the years, especially in the lower and high courts, with women constituting the majority of the High Court bench.
“Justice Schimming-Chase’s elevation is the product of a long and distinguished career, marked by professional excellence and dedicated judicial service,” Shivute said. He added that her record speaks for itself.
He also said that he has confidence that she will continue to serve with the same commitment and integrity that have characterised her career to date.
Justice Schimming-Chase is expected to assume her duties immediately, as the appointment is effective 1 March 2026.
The journey
Schimming-Chase needs no introduction in Namibia’s legal fraternity.
She completed her schooling in Namibia, Saint Lucia and Switzerland before reading law in the United Kingdom.
She obtained her LLB (Hons) degree from Coventry University in 1992 and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple, London, in 1994.
From 1995, she served in Namibia as a legal officer in the Office of the Attorney General and as senior manager for investment promotion at the Offshore Development Company.
She was admitted as a legal practitioner of the High Court of Namibia in 2002 and joined the Namibian Bar in 2003.
Over nearly two decades in practice, she specialised in civil, commercial, constitutional and medico-legal litigation, as well as arbitration and mediation, with some experience in the field of criminal law.
She became the first Black Namibian woman to be conferred the rank of Senior Counsel by the Namibian Society of Advocates in July 2017.
Her judicial career began with acting appointments to the High Court for one term in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2020.
She was permanently appointed judge of the High Court on 1 April 2021, serving in the Commercial Court. She was elevated in 2023 to acting judge of the Supreme Court for the 2023-2025 term, becoming one of the first two Namibian women to sit on the Supreme Court bench.
Beyond the bench, Schimming-Chase has held prominent leadership positions, including president of the Law Society of Namibia, president of the Society of Advocates of Namibia and chairperson of the council of the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
She served as an independent non-executive director at Capricorn Group Namibia and is a member of the World Athletics Federation Vetting Panel.
She also lectured in legal drafting at the University of Namibia’s Justice Training Centre and has published scholarly works on constitutional jurisprudence, legal profession reform and offshore finance.