Lusaka | October 1, 2025 – In a game-changing decision in Zambia’s fight against illegal logging, the Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court has forfeited to the State a vast array of assets tied to a major illegal logging operation. This monumental judgment sends a clear message that criminal exploitation of the country’s precious forests will not go unpunished. With trucks, machinery, and even land now forfeited to the state, the court has taken decisive action to protect Zambia’s natural resources from further damage.
The decision, made by Justices S.M. Wanjelani, A. Malaya-Ononuju, and I.M. Mabbolobbolo, represents a key moment in Zambia’s fight against environmental crime. The judgment, backed by a thorough investigation by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), focuses on a network led by Sena Plus Investments Limited, which was found to be illegally logging Mopane, Mukwa, and Mupapa trees.
In an unprecedented move, the court has forfeited assets crucial to the operation, including trucks, machinery, and land. This sweeping forfeiture demonstrates Zambia’s unyielding commitment to protecting its natural resources for future generations.
Among the assets forfeited are:
- 1,899 Mopane Logs;
- Mukwa Logs;
- 19 Mupapa Logs;
- 40 Planks;
- Fork Lift and Industrial Machinery;
- Trucks and Trailers; and
- Premises at Stand No. 20520 Lusaka.
The decision of the court also dismantled the false claims of the 4th Interested Party, Kai Hong Sociedade Unipessoal Limitada, whose attempt to justify its involvement with fraudulent documents was rejected by the court.
The judgment stresses the importance of due diligence and transparency in business dealings, especially within high-risk industries like logging and transportation. As stated in the court’s ruling:
“Our decision should send and reinforce a clear message to owners of both movable and immovable properties that, even as they enter into commercial agreements, they must satisfy themselves that their assets will not be used as instrumentalities in the commission or furtherance of economic and financial crimes. Courts have a duty not to embolden people to engage in or to perpetrate illegal logging but to protect the country’s natural resources for future generations.”
This decision marks a decisive step toward safeguarding Zambia’s forests and strengthening its position as a leader in the global fight against environmental degradation.