Kabwe, Zambia – Justice Ruth Hachitapika Chibbabbuka yesterday continued hearing the testimony of Emmanuel Simposya, a 24-year-old UPND cadre, who recounted the events that occurred on April 8, 2023, during the Muchinda Ward Council By-Election campaign in the Kamalamba area of Serenje District. The shooting incident left lasting physical and emotional effects on the victims. The case, prosecuted by Director of Public Prosecutions Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, SC, and Deputy Chief State Advocate Mercy Lungu, Head of the Appeals Department at the National Prosecution Authority, involves Socialist Party President, Dr. Fred M’membe. He faces multiple charges related to the alleged shooting and subsequent assault on the victims. Under cross-examination, Simposya testified how Dr. M’membe, without provocation, fired two shots into the air before advancing towards him and shooting in his direction. The bullet grazed his ear and the side of

Philemon Dyamini, a 30-year-old examinations officer with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), has been sentenced by the Fast Track Court in Lusaka to a custodial sentence for dangerous driving that caused a serious road traffic incident involving Chief Justice Mumba Malila. The incident, which occurred on August 30, 2024, along Lusaka’s Independence Avenue, left the Chief Justice with severe injuries, necessitating his evacuation to South Africa for specialised medical care. In a statement of facts presented by Public Prosecutor Victoria Mtonga, the court heard that Dyamini, driving a BMW at excessive speed, lost control and collided with the Chief Justice’s official vehicle, a GRZ Mercedes Benz, triggering a multi-vehicle crash. Both the Chief Justice and his driver, Ndlovu Newton, were gravely injured. In count 1, Dyamini was sentenced to 18 months simple imprisonment for dangerous driving, contrary to section 155(1)

On 11th October 2024, Joanne Nsekesha Mumpasha, a former Accounts Assistant at the Department of Immigration, was convicted on 41 counts of Theft by Public Servant. The convict was charged with theft involving over K2 million public funds, alleged to have been stolen over an 18th month’ period from January 2020 to July 2021. Ms. Mumpasha was sentenced to 6 years’ simple imprisonment, a decisive outcome in this case of public funds misappropriation. Case Background: As an Accounts Assistant, Ms. Mumpasha was entrusted with the responsibility of receiving daily collections in cash and cheques from immigration services, which she was expected to deposit at Atlas Mara Bank. However, an audit report in 2020 raised serious concerns about under-banking and unaccounted revenue, leading to a thorough forensic audit. The forensic audit revealed a clandestine scheme of siphoning public funds through deliberate

The Supreme Court of Zambia is set to hear a critical appeal that could significantly impact the country’s asset recovery framework. This follows a rare decision by the Court of Appeal to grant the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) leave to challenge its earlier ruling. The case involves the forfeiture of funds tied to unlicensed foreign exchange trading and raises complex legal questions surrounding Non-Conviction Based (NCB) asset forfeiture. At the heart of the case is the issue of how NCB forfeiture should be applied in financial crime cases, particularly those involving offences like money laundering and illegal foreign exchange trading. While such forfeiture is a powerful tool for recovering assets connected to criminal activities, it also raises concerns about ensuring the protection of fundamental rights. The Court of Appeal emphasised the importance of the case, noting that it involves