Lusaka | December 8, 2024 — Lusaka | December 8, 2024 – When former Zambian Ambassador to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba, was charged with sedition, two high-profile MPs put their names on the line for him as his sureties. Today, that line was crossed and they are paying for it.

In a firm ruling, the Court ordered Bangweulu MP Antony Kasandwe and Chinsali MP Kalalwe Mukosa to forfeit a total of K100,000 to the State, K50,000 each, representing the precise sums they individually guaranteed under the bond. The Court further directed that failure to pay within 48 hours will result in three months’ simple imprisonment for each surety.

Mwamba was arrested in November 2023 and released on a Police Bond, under which he personally undertook to appear before court and pledged K50,000 as security. MPs Kasandwe and Mukosa executed the same document as sureties, each binding themselves to guarantee his attendance and to forfeit their respective sums in the event of default.

Mwamba initially complied with court proceedings, and the State successfully presented four of its six witnesses before Honourable Hampungani. Thereafter, he ceased attending court. Despite repeated adjournments, the accused failed to return, prompting the State to apply for a bench warrant, which was issued on 24 September 2025.

The matter was later allocated to a new magistrate Honourable Simvuka, yet Mwamba continued to be absent and is believed to have left the country.

Today the sureties were put summoned to explain the whereabouts of the accused person. The two sureties each informed the Court that they were unable to secure Mwamba’s attendance as he had travelled abroad.
In response the did not oppose the application but submitted that the bond conditions had been unequivocally breached and must therefore be enforced.

Magistrate Simvula upheld this position, reiterating that the obligations assumed by a surety are binding, deliberate, and expressly enforceable. The Court emphasised that a surety’s responsibility is not symbolic, nor is it diminished by the accused’s decision to flee the jurisdiction.

The warrant of arrest issued against Emmanuel Mwamba remains active and will be returnable upon his eventual apprehension.

This ruling reinforces the foundational principle that bond instruments are solemn undertakings designed to secure the administration of justice. Parties who assume such obligations, regardless of status or office, are expected to comply fully with the law.

The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) confirms its commitment to ensuring accountability, safeguarding court processes, and upholding the integrity of the criminal justice system.