UNDERSTANDING HOW CHARGES ARE DETERMINED IN CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONSLusaka | October 8, 2025 – Following public interest in the recent case involving the death of Mr. Enock Simfukwe Kasengele in Kabwe where Ms. Maria Zaloumis and four others were arrested and initially charged with murder, questions have emerged around how criminal charges are determined, and what informs those decisions within the justice system. Without delving into the specific details of the Kabwe case, which is yet to go to trial, this article seeks to offer clarity on how the legal process works and how the roles of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) come together to ensure that justice is guided by evidence, law and process, not speculation or pressure. Addressing MisconceptionsMuch of the recent public commentary and speculation surrounding this high-profile case has implied that something improper occurred when the charge was revised from murder to manslaughter.It is important to state clearly that there was no

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 found that the transaction was a sham and that the money deposited into the FNB account was part of a

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 Court by way of a complaint. Unlike ordinary criminal prosecutions, which are instituted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),

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 committed to building a strong cadre of prosecutors who can deliver justice with sensitivity, consistency, and resilience.

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 illegally logging Mopane, Mukwa, and Mupapa trees. In an unprecedented move, the court has forfeited assets crucial to the operation,

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 stay (halt) proceedings pending constitutional interpretation. During his defence, Mr. Muma’s legal team, led by Mr. H.A. Chizu and Mr.

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 DPP. In his remarks, Secretary Tang emphasised the shared commitment to international security, stating, “The signing of these agreements represents

The National Prosecution Authority (NPA)’s Mongu office has secured the conviction of a predatory child sexual abuser, Evans Mulyata Milandile. The self-styled traditional healer was found guilty of defiling a 15-year-old girl, an offence contrary to Section 138 (1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. CASE OVERVIEW The court established that sometime in April 2025, the elder sister of the 15-year-old victim approached the accused seeking treatment for her sister’s recurrent fainting spells at school. Milandile, presenting himself as a healer, arranged to meet the family at their residence. Gaining entry into the family home, he performed a series of rituals. He instructed the victim to undress completely, tattooed her body, and administered herbal medicine, all in the presence of her father and sister, lending an air of legitimacy to his actions. He further instructed the family to procure a black chicken for subsequent rituals, deepening their investment in his fraudulent treatment. The situation escalated

In a moment that signalled collaboration and shared purpose, the Wildlife Crime Prevention (WCP) officially handed over the, “Illegal Wildlife Trade in the Court Room: Zambia Trends Report (2017–2024)” to the learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri SC, during a formal launch event held in the National Prosecution Authority Conference Room this afternoon. The report, the first of its kind in Zambia, captures seven years of data from over 5,000 wildlife-related cases prosecuted across the country. But more than the numbers, the launch marked a growing national commitment to prosecuting environmental crime with precision and purpose. Among its key findings, the report shows that the overall conviction rate for wildlife offences between 2017 and 2024 was 79%, with annual rates ranging from 65% to 87%. While there were some fluctuations including a dip in 2020 likely linked to COVID-19-related disruptions. The data reflects a clear upward trend over the years, pointing to steady improvements in prosecutorial outcomes.