Lusaka | November 18, 2025*– The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri SC, personally led a high-level National Prosecution Authority (NPA) delegation in strategic talks with the Indian High Commission on Friday, November 14, 2025.
The delegation comprised the Authority’s Chief Administrator, Ms. Cassandra Soko; the Acting Chief State Advocate, Mrs. Chali Mbewe-Hambayi, who also serves as head of the Gender Based Crimes and Child Protection Department; the Deputy Chief State Advocate who heads the Asset Forfeiture Department, Ms. Margaret Kapambwe-Chitundu; and State Advocate in the Taxation and Financial Crimes Department, Mr. Sylvester Banda. The meeting focused on translating the long-standing Zambia-India relationship into a strong operational legal alliance.
Central to the discussions was the finalisation of a comprehensive Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) treaty. This critical agreement will establish formal channels for evidence exchange, asset recovery, and joint investigations, dismantling the operational barriers that have hampered prosecutions in complex transnational cases.
The Director of Public Prosecutions emphasised that contemporary criminal challenges demand contemporary legal solutions, highlighting the need to advance the bilateral relationship into a powerful legal partnership.
His Excellency High Commissioner Shri Alok Ranjan Jha expressed India’s full commitment to the initiative. He specifically highlighted the extensive training opportunities available in India, noting they remain a valuable and underutilised resource, and strongly encouraged Zambia to leverage these capacity-building initiatives.
Beyond the MLA treaty, both nations agreed to elevate cooperation through dedicated training programmes for Zambian legal professionals, leveraging India’s expertise in combating cybercrime, money laundering, and complex financial fraud.
This marks a decisive shift in how Zambia handles international crime. We are moving beyond ad-hoc requests to building structured, powerful alliances that leave criminals with nowhere to hide.
The National Prosecution Authority continues to expand its international cooperation footprint, recognising that effective prosecution in an interconnected world requires seamless cross-border collaboration.