Livingstone, Zambia |June 2025In a speech that struck deep at the heart of criminal justice systems across the region, Zambia’s Learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, S.C., has issued a bold call to arms: the justice system must be rebuilt, not just reformed, to centre the victim and dismantle the barriers that silence them. Opening the second in-person Annual General Meeting of the Southern Africa Heads of Prosecution (SAHOP), Mr. Phiri challenged his counterparts from 16 SADC countries to do more than convene – to reimagine. Held under the theme, “Innovative Criminal Justice Practices – Strengthening Regional Collaboration to Combat Gender-Based Violence,” the meeting confronts one of the region’s most urgent and devastating crises. “We cannot pretend the current system was designed with vulnerable women and girls in mind,” Mr. Phiri declared. “It’s time to flip the

This Is the Moment – Zambian Government Urges Southern Africa’s Heads of Prosecution to Lead the Charge Against Gender-Based ViolenceA Survivor’s Voice at the Forefront – Minister Mwamba Shares Her Story to Inspire Prosecutorial Action Livingstone, Zambia | June 2025 Moments after Honourable Madam Justice Catherine Lombe Phiri delivered her opening remarks and eloquently set the stage for urgent and collaborative action, she invited the Guest of Honour, Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Honourable Doreen Mwamba, MP, to address the Forum. What followed was a powerful and deeply personal speech, one that moved the room and redefined the tone of the gathering. In a message that was both impassioned and purposeful, Minister Mwamba issued a stirring appeal to the region’s heads of prosecution – This is the moment. Stand up. Take action. Cement your commitment. But it was

From the 16th to 17th   of June 2025, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, SC, conducted a working tour of Namwala and Sinazongwe Districts in Southern Province. He was accompanied by two officials from the NPA namely: Mr. Matumo Mululu Acting Principal State Advocate – Choma and Ms. Naomi Tembo Executive Officer – Livingstone. The DPP’s visit aimed at; assessing the state of criminal justice delivery mechanisms in the two districts, addressing institutional challenges, and strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Judiciary, Law Enforcement Agencies and district leadership. During the tour, the DPP addressed critical issues such as the rise in of Gender-Based Violence and organised stock theft in the Province. He also had the opportunity to meet with the Police Command and the Courts in Choma, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and effectiveness in

Lusaka | Tuesday, 17 June 2025 – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has today filed an application before the Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court, seeking the non-conviction based forfeiture of US$2,320,000.00, seven gold bars, and a Toyota Rush vehicle suspected to be proceeds and instruments of crime.The application follows the April 18 arrest of 27-year-old Indian national Aamir Soeb Patel, who was intercepted at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) while allegedly attempting to smuggle the cash and gold out of the country aboard a flight to Dubai. Acting on intelligence, a joint operations team, comprising officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and other state security agencies, moved in swiftly, seizing the concealed items moments before departure.According to the affidavit sworn in support of the application by Drug Enforcement Commission Investigator, Ms. Yvonne Bwalya Mulenga,

The Chief State Advocate played an active role in the deliberations of the Conference by participating in a high level panel discussion on: Strengthening   Cross Border Co-operation by Enhancing Capacity Building Initiatives and Reinforcing Networks among Prosecutors across the Commonwealth. Other esteemed panelists included Hon Todd Fuller KC- Director of Public Prosecutions Queensland Australia and Hon Madeline Laracy Deputy Solicitor General of New Zealand. This high level session, was chaired by the Hon Abubacker Mohammed, Director of Public Prosecutions Nigeria.

Lusaka – June, 2025 Should a child ever be sent to jail in Zambia? That complex legal question is now headed to the Supreme Court. In a ruling handed down on 5th June 2025, the Court of Appeal granted the State leave to appeal a decision that has reopened debate on what sentencing options remain available when a child commits a serious offence. Does the Children’s Code Act entirely exclude imprisonment as a sentencing option for children, even in grave cases? The appeal, brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, centres on the interpretation of the Children’s Code Act No. 12 of 2022, Zambia’s comprehensive “new” law aimed at aligning juvenile justice with child rights norms. Chilling Facts Behind the Case The case at the heart of the legal discussion is The People v. Abraham Phiri, involving a 17-year-old boy

Case overview Wellington Simwanza and Queen Namfukwe, the accused persons in this matter stood charged with the offence of Theft contrary to Section 272 of the Penal Code Act, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. The duo appeared in the Mkushi subordinate court. It was alleged that on unknown dates but between the month of July, 2024 and 10th September, 2024, the accused persons, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown, did steal K198,770.20 the property of Nafika Multi purpose cooperative. Legal proceedings The accused persons pleaded not guilty before Hon. Simanya and the matter proceeded to trial and after trial they were found guilty as charged. Among the witnesses who testified was Yvon Mambwe, the complainant in the matter who narrated to the court that in the month she cannot remember but in the year 2022, a

The accused persons: Mayunyi Mwenda, Liswaniso Walubita, and Mbololwa Mutemwa, stood charged with three counts of possession of protected Trophy contrary to Section 130 (1) of the Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015 of the Laws of Zambia and one count of being in possession of Government Trophy contrary to Section 129 (1) of the Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015 of the Laws of Zambia. Brief facts are that on the 17th day of August, 2024 in the Senanga District of the Western Province, Mayunyi Mwenda, a Peasant farmer, was found in possession of 2 Kilograms of Hippo Meat and 2 Kilograms of Otter Meat without a certificate of ownership from the Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). Upon interrogation by officers from DNPW, who apprehended him, he disclosed that he obtained the said

Man convicted for defiling daughter On Tuesday, the 27th of May, 2025, AB was found guilty of Incest contrary to Section 159(1) of the Penal Code by Resident Magistrate Honourable C. Hampungani.  Due to the provisions of the Children’s Code Act, the name of the Convicted person has not been divulged as doing so would lead to the identity of the child victim being known, which is against the law. Sometime in April 2023, the child victim, aged only 12 years old at the time, was at home with her siblings when the Convict arrived and sent her siblings away to a nearby shop to buy snacks. This left the Convict and the child victim alone in the house, thereby according him the opportunity to have sexual intercourse with his biological daughter. After the ordeal, the child victim noted that