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 justice delivery. He called for enhanced investigation capacity, inter-district cooperation, and community involvement in combating crime. He firmly discouraged the

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 seized cash, bundled in neat stacks of US dollars, was carefully concealed alongside seven gleaming gold bars, with an

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 convicted of murder and aggravated robbery. The incident took place in January 2022 in Chamanika Village, Petauke District, where the

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 co-operative  called Nafika Cooperative was created. The cooperative consisted of 26 members. The executive members were, the first accused Wellington

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 meat from Liswaniso Walubita, a Retired officer from the Office of the President in Senanga. A follow-up was conducted at

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 she had a slippery substance coming out of her genital area and informed her mother of what had transpired, but

For most people, retirement is something they know is coming but few ever feel truly ready for. At the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), that reality is changing. In a groundbreaking move, the NPA has introduced a Pre-Retirement Preparedness Program aimed at helping employees plan for life beyond the office, not just financially, but emotionally, socially, and mentally. This initiative is not about winding down; it’s about gearing up for a meaningful next chapter. The first group to benefit from this thoughtful intervention was a cohort of 20 officers aged 53 and 54, drawn from various provinces including Lusaka, Western, Copperbelt, Luapula, Central, North-Western, and Southern. These officers are due to retire in 2026 and 2027, but for once, the transition will not come as a shock. Working closely with Future Search, a division under the Public Service Management Division (PSMD), the NPA curated a training program that goes beyond technicalities. Officers participated in sessions on mindset transformation, entrepreneurship, financial literacy,

MAN CONVICTED FOR DEFILING 13-YEAR OLD GIRL On Friday, 16th May, 2025, Santini Chilenga was convicted by Resident Magistrate Honourable C. Hampungani for the offence of Defilement and has since been referred to the High Court for sentencing. Brief facts of the matter are that on the fateful day, the child victim aged, only 13years, accompanied her elder sister aged 16 years, to go and meet the Convict at his residence in Banda Masautso, located within Old Kanyama Compound. While at the house, the Convict, a 29 year old, requested to have sexual relations with the victims 16 year old sister ’, who declined this inappropriate request. After her refusal, the Convict took the 16 year old girl with him to a nearby store and later left her by the roadside and went back to his place of residence where the child victim had remained with the Convicts cousin.. The Convict took the child victim to his room where he

Today, 15th May, 2025 – One Love Radio hosted a thought-provoking discussion on the alarming rise of child sexual abuse in Zambia. The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) joined forces with World Vision International to shed light on this critical issue. World Vision’s Child Protection Specialist, Mr. Potipher Zulu and legal manager Mrs. Kasale were joined by Mrs. Chali Mbewe Hambayi, Director of Gender-Based Crimes and Child Protection at NPA. The panel shared valuable insights on the legal framework protecting children. Mrs Chali Mbewe-Hambayi emphasised the importance of reporting cases and bringing perpetrators to justice. The program serves as a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our children. By reporting cases and supporting those affected, we can work together to create a safer environment for Zambia’s youth. Want to hear more? Click the link below to listen to the discussion and learn how you can contribute to combating child sexual abuse👇