High Court Orders Forfeiture of Fraud-Linked Funds to the State in Major Economic Crime judgment Lusaka | October 3, 2025 – The Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court has ordered the forfeiture of ZMW 8,142,215.04 to the State, after finding the funds to be the proceeds of a fraudulent gold transaction involving a Zambian company and a foreign buyer based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The funds, held in FNB Account Number 62908248463, were traced to Lusaka Gold and Platinum Refinery Limited, which claimed to be exporting gold to Smolenski Trading LLC, a company based in Dubai and formerly operating under the name Epitychia General Trading LLC. Investigations revealed that the Zambian company was not licenced to trade or process minerals and had no valid export permits under the Mines and Minerals Development Act. The court

Lusaka | October 2, 2025 – In a major legal development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court, on September 30, 2025, granted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) leave to appeal out of time in the controversial case involving Honey Bee Pharmacy Limited, and seven others. This opens the door for a long-delayed challenge to the 2021 acquittal of former Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya and Honey Bee Pharmacy Limited that has fueled years of legal wrangling and public outcry over procurement integrity and accountability in Zambia’s health sector. Also named as Respondents in this case are Wilson Lungu, Bonaventure Chilinde, Zakir Husen Motala, Chomba Kaoma, Imran Lunat, and Abdurraut Abdurrahim Motola. No Plea. No Trial. But Acquitted. The case dates back to January 19, 2021, when a private prosecution was initiated in the Subordinate

Lusaka | October 1, 2025 – In an important meeting held at the National Prosecution Authority headquarters in Lusaka, the Learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri SC, welcomed Ireland’s newly appointed Ambassador, Aidan Fitzpatrick. This first official meeting was an opportunity to discuss and strengthen the ongoing collaboration between Zambia and Ireland, particularly in the area of justice and capacity building.The discussion focused on key initiatives that have seen the Irish Government support Zambia’s justice system, including the highly impactful mobile court project, aimed at bringing justice closer to communities across Zambia.This meeting underscores the growing international cooperation in the fight against corruption, with both countries committed to strengthening the rule of law and enhancing judicial efficiency in Zambia.

The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has commenced a specialised training programme for prosecutors focusing on Sexual Violence and Child Protection. Supported by UNICEF, these trainings draw from the 2nd edition of the NPA’s Sexual Violence Handbook and the newly developed Prosecutors’ Guidelines for Children in the Justice System. This week, 30 prosecutors from three provinces have gathered in Choma to benefit from this initiative. The training is led by Mrs. Chali Mbewe Hambayi, Head of the Gender-Based Crimes and Child Protection Department, with co-facilitators Mr. Chipola Bako, Head of Lusaka Province, and State Advocate Cynthia Mwila. The programme is designed to:✅ Equip prosecutors with trauma-informed, victim- and child-friendly approaches.✅ Prevent retraumatisation of survivors during the prosecution process.✅ Promote perpetrator accountability.✅ Ensure standardisation and uniformity in the management of sexual violence and child-related cases nationwide. Through this initiative, the NPA is

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

LUSAKA | October 1, 2025 – The Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court has dismissed an application by former High Court Judge Wilfred Kopa Muma to refer constitutional questions to the Constitutional Court, clearing the way for his corruption trial to proceed. Mr. Muma is facing two charges: At the centre of the case is Plot No. Lusaka/LN-8426/1, a property whose certificate of title was initially held by the Zambia Army. The State alleges that between April and December 2018, while serving as Commissioner of Lands, Mr. Muma cancelled the Army’s title and reallocated the land to the Patriotic Front (PF) party, allegedly acting on verbal instructions from then-President Edgar Lungu. A three-judge panel, comprising Judge Pixie Yangailo, Judge Anne Malata-Ononuju, and Judge Ian Mabbolobbolo, delivered the ruling on September 30, 2025, rejecting the Defence’s request to

HONG KONG | September 26, 2025 – The Republic of Zambia and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China today signed a trio of agreements, establishing a powerful legal alliance to combat cross-border crime, deny safe havens to offenders, and accelerate the recovery of illicit assets. The signing ceremony, held at the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong, was led by the Secretary for Security, Mr. Tang Ping-keung, for the HKSAR and the Honourable Jack Mwimbu, MP, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, for Zambia. The event marks the culmination of extensive negotiations spearheaded by Attorney General, Mr. Mulilo Kabesha, SC, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, SC. The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) was represented at the signing by its Chief Administrator, Ms. Cassandra Soko, on behalf of the

The 2025 Third Annual Prosecutors’ Conference came to a sobering close with a powerful address by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, SC, who minced no words in delivering a clear message to all officers that integrity is non-negotiable. The DPP took to the podium moments after a thought-provoking presentation titled “Prevention of Corruption in the Prosecution Service” delivered by Ms. Glenda Mungalaba, Chief Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The presentation had ignited lively debate with one participant pointedly asking why internal cases of corruption within the ACC rarely make it into the public domain. In response, Mr. Phiri delivered a stirring closing statement, dispelling any illusions of leniency or double standards within the justice system. “Let me be very clear,” he began. “Any officer found on the wrong side of the law

The warm August evening air in Lusaka carried with it the subtle promise of something special as guests gathered at a restaurant for a dinner hosted by the Prosecutors’ Conference Organising Committee. Tucked away in the heart of the city, the venue provided a perfect setting, rustic, intimate, and rich with Zambian charm, for what would unfold as one of the most memorable evenings of the Conference. The dinner was more than a formal gathering, it was a celebration of collaboration, cultural pride, and shared purpose. As guests took their seats under softly glowing chandeliers and the scent of local cuisine drifted through the air, there was already a quiet sense that this would be no ordinary evening. What followed was a truly enchanting experience. The diners were serenaded by none other than the legendary Angela Nyirenda, whose music stirred

Three days. Thirty transformative sessions. One mission. The Third Annual International Prosecutors’ Conference has drawn to a powerful close in Lusaka. One thing is clear – this gathering was not merely a conference, it was a crucible of transformation. We did not just discuss the law, we redefined it. We did not simply exchange ideas, we ignited action. Under the theme, “The Evolving Role of a Prosecutor in a Complex World: Innovation and Sustainable Practices,” we faced the most pressing challenges of our time head-on. From digital frontiers to the courtroom, from policy to practice, we forged a forward path rooted in innovation, integrity, and impact. Prosecutors as Changemakers Over three days of dialogue, debate, and deep dives, from gender-based violence to tech-enabled financial crime, we reaffirmed a truth – that justice thrives when prosecution leads with purpose and ingenuity.