Copperbelt & Northwestern Provinces | March, 2026 – From March 5 to 14, the Inter-Agency Coordination and Cooperation Framework, through its Illegal Mining and Mineral Crimes Subcommittee, conducted province-wide tours across the Copperbelt and Northwestern regions. The team engaged mining operators and regulators, gathering first-hand intelligence on sector vulnerabilities to understand how illegal mining drives organised crime, money laundering, and illicit financial flows, while ensuring a coordinated response across government agencies. The Framework Chairperson and learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, SC, tasked the subcommittee with this mission, supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The delegation comprised the following Members: The objectives of the tour were to identify vulnerabilities in the mining sector that criminals exploit, assessthe scale and impact of illegal mining on organised crime and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders to safeguard Zambia’s mineral resources. The Inter-Agency Coordination and Cooperation Framework brings together 23 government agencies under the leadership of the

Gaborone, Botswana | March 24, 2026 – The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) is strengthening its fight against environmental crime, with prosecutors from its newly established Environmental and Wildlife Crimes Department, created in December 2025, undergoing specialised training in Gaborone. Deputy Chief State Advocate and Head of Department, Mrs. Martha Tembo-Weza, is attending the programme alongside Senior Public Prosecutor Mr. Alex Yanganani at the U.S. International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). The week-long course focuses on tackling illegal logging and complex forestry-related offences. Mrs. Weza’s participation signals the NPA’s commitment to building a highly skilled unit from the ground up, reflecting a deliberate approach where leadership is directly involved in shaping expertise and strengthening prosecutorial capacity. The programme brings together prosecutors, investigators, and customs officials from across Southern and Central Africa, highlighting the shared regional understanding that environmental crime is organised, transnational, and increasingly sophisticated. For Zambia, this training is timely. Illegal logging continues to threaten natural resources, biodiversity, and sustainable development,

Lusaka | March 19, 2026 – Over three days, a collection of voices, from Zambia and Kenya, illuminated the challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities in electoral justice at the fourth National Annual Prosecutors’ Conference. 733 prosecutors gathered under one roof to deliberate, share insights, and shape the future of democracy.The conference opened with Ms. Mwangala Zaloumis, represented by Ms. Clementina Mwelwa, who reminded delegates that democracy lives in every vote. She spoke of the sacred duty to protect the ballot, a duty both solemn and urgent, and one that would echo throughout the next three days.From there, the energy in the hall escalated. Attorney General Mulilo D. Kabesha, SC, reminded all that prosecutors are custodians of the constitution, tasked with responsibilities as heavy as they are essential. Justice is not optional; it is the lifeblood of democracy.The courtroom took centre stage with Lady Justice Maria Mapani Kawimbe, who declared:“The courtroom is where democracy’s promises are tested. Every trial is a defence

Lusaka | March 19, 2026 – The success of the 2026 National Annual Prosecutors’ Conference was not only the result of the dedication of the National Prosecution Authority but also the support of its partners and funders. Without their contributions, this gathering of 733 prosecutors, judicial officers, and international guests would not have been possible. During the opening session, representatives from partner organisations took a moment to share solidarity messages and highlight their commitment to supporting justice, democracy, and child protection in Zambia. Mr. Seth Broekman, Country Representative, United Nations Population Fund, applauded the commitment of prosecutors in upholding electoral integrity and safeguarding the rights of women and children. Mr. James Wakiaga, Country Representative, United Nations Development Programme, emphasized the importance of cross-institutional collaboration in strengthening Zambia’s justice system. Ms. Dorah C. Mafabi, Director of the Zambia Bilateral Anti-Trafficking in Persons Programme at Save the Children International, highlighted the critical role of prosecutors in protecting children from exploitation, particularly during

NEW YORK | March 14, 2026 – From the courts of Lusaka to the corridors of the United Nations, Zambia’s voice for women’s justice is being heard loud and clear. The National Prosecution Authority is officially represented at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) , currently underway at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. It is the world’s premier gathering on gender equality and the empowerment of women and Zambia has a seat at the table. Leading the delegation are two officers from the NPA’s Gender Based Crimes and Child Protection Department: Their presence signals something important – Zambia is not just talking about justice for women and girls, it is showing up, engaging, and learning from the best in the world. This year’s priority theme resonates deeply with the work being done every day back home: “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and

Lusaka | March 14, 2026 – They spend their days in courtrooms, arguing cases and seeking justice. But for the past eight months, five prosecutors from the National Prosecution Authority traded the courtroom for the lecture theatre and yesterday, they have the parchment to prove it. In a ceremony held yesterday, five NPA officers graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting, a demanding programme that ran from July 27 to December 5, 2025. Their achievement marks another milestone in the Authority’s sustained investment in human capital development. The graduates are: Prosecutors are trained to interpret the law. But those who understand how laws are written bring something extra to the table, a rare ability to see not just what the law says, but what it intended to say. This is the value of legislative drafting. It is the skill of crafting clear, precise, and effective legal provisions. And now, five more of our prosecutors possess it. The NPA’s

Lusaka | March 13, 2026 – For years, a quiet crisis has haunted Zambia’s justice system.Financial criminals, money launderers, fraudsters, those who loot public coffers, have stayed one step ahead, exploiting complex systems while prosecutors struggle to keep pace. The problem was never a lack of will. It was a lack of specialised weapons.This morning, that changed.In a momentous signing ceremony, the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), and the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) formalised a partnership to arm Zambia’s justice sector with the one thing criminals fear most – superior skill.The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a structured professional development programme focused on Financial Investigations and Asset Recovery (FIAR), training that will equip investigators to trace stolen money, freeze illicit assets, and ensure crime does not pay.But this will be no ordinary training programme.Mr. Norville Connolly, IRLI Country Director, revealed the partnership was nearly one year six months in the making, a

Lusaka | March 6. 2026 – With Zambia’s general elections barely five months away, the learned Director of Public Prosecutions Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, S.C., this afternoon hosted Mr. Arnold Tsunga from the African Electoral Justice Network for high-level talks on possible areas of collaboration to ensure the upcoming polls free, fair, and violence-free.The meeting was as timely as it gets.Mr. Tsunga, whose organisation works across the continent to strengthen electoral justice systems, came bearing one mission which is to explore how his network and the NPA can join forces ahead of the August elections. The discussions centred on practical collaboration, what concrete steps can be taken to ensure that when Zambians go to the polls, they do so without fear, and that any electoral offences are met with swift and impartial justice.The visit dovetails perfectly with the NPA’s own calendar. On March 16, the Authority kicks off its Annual Prosecutors’ Conference under a theme that could have been written

Lusaka | March 4, 2026 – Ahead of International Women’s Day to be commemorated on Sunday, March 8. 2026, the National Prosecution Authority this morning visited the Children’s Hospital at the University Teaching Hospital to support mothers and babies admitted to the facility. The delegation was led by the Authority’s Chief Administrator, Ms Cassandra Soko, who presented care hampers filled with essential items for mothers and newborns in the children’s and neonatal wards. The hampers contained basic supplies aimed at supporting families during their time in hospital and easing the burden on mothers caring for their infants. The visit included the neonatal ward, where some of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients receive specialised care. The Authority acknowledged the dedication and professionalism of the health workers who provide continuous support to mothers and children. As the country prepares to commemorate International Women’s Day, the visit underscored the importance of recognising and supporting women, particularly mothers navigating the demands of childbirth and

Kitwe | March 1, 2026The Kitwe High Court has convicted and sentenced eight accused persons to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for the offence of aggravated robbery, bringing to conclusion a matter arising from the theft of 361.20 kilograms of emeralds valued at K4,100,000. Nine accused persons had stood jointly charged with one count of aggravated robbery contrary to Section 294(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. It was alleged that on October 7, 2018, at Lufwanyama District in Copperbelt Province, the accused persons, acting together and while armed with offensive weapons, stole emeralds belonging to Continental Mining Africa Company Limited. The charge further stated that, in the course of the robbery, violence was used or threatened against a mine security guard in order to overcome resistance. The accused first appeared before the High Court in Kitwe in June 2019 and pleaded not guilty. The matter proceeded to trial. Following the close of the