Case overview  The accused person Ernest Chilonga stood charged with one count of Theft by Public Servant contrary to section 272 and 277 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia On the 26th day of September, 2024, the accused person a head teacher at Mulwa Primary School in the Mongu District of the Western Province of Zambia was contracted as Pay point manager for Social Cash Transfer. On the material date the accused person went to Zambia Commercial Bank and withdrew k68,320.00 cash for which k64,000.00 was the property of the Government of the Republic of Zambia meant for Social Cash Transfer beneficiaries and the remaining k4,320.00 was his allowance. Upon collection of the money from the bank the accused person did not go back to the school but instead lodged at an unnamed lodge where

The Mansa Subordinate Court has convicted and sentenced two former District Commissioners, Robert Mutepuka of Nchelenge and Morton Sikazwe of Mwansabombwe, along with six others, for illegal mining and related offenses. The co-accused are Jones Nkandu, Kelvin Mulenga, Masauso Jere, Obbrey Simauki, Mulenga Chilufya, and Joshua Chimuli. The convictions were on three counts: Count 1, Illegal Mining, contrary to sections 12(1) and (3) of the Mines and Minerals Development Act No. 11 of 2015; Count 2, Conveying Property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, contrary to section 319(b) of the Penal Code Cap 87; and Count 3, Giving False Information to a Public Officer, contrary to section 125(a) of the Penal Code, which applied only to Jones Nkandu. Sentences were as follows: Count 1, a fine of K10,000 each and 5 months imprisonment with hard labor, effective July 24,

LUSAKA, Zambia |July 22, 2025In a bold, game-changing move, the National Prosecution Authority has raised the stakes in Zambia’s battle against financial crime, launching a comprehensive set of Guidelines for the Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes. This marks a historic turning point in the country’s judicial framework, as the NPA gears up to tackle high-level corruption, money laundering, and financial impropriety with unprecedented precision. At a ceremony attended by top government officials, the learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri SC, delivered a powerful message on the scale of the challenge ahead. “We’re not dealing with petty criminals,” the DPP declared, emphasising that these crimes are committed by the elite, “individuals dressed in suits and driving expensive cars, but motivated by an insatiable greed that puts our economy at risk.” The DPP credited the launch not only

LUSAKA, Zambia |July 22, 2025 In a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered during the official launch of the Guidelines for the Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes, Ms. Mwangala Iris Mwala, Principal State Advocate in the Taxation and Financial Crimes Department of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), expressed deep appreciation to the various stakeholders whose contributions made the new guidelines a reality. Ms. Mwala extended special thanks to the EnACT Zambia Programme, under the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), for their instrumental support in the development of the guidelines. “Without your support, these guidelines would not have been possible,” Ms. Mwala stated, recognising the crucial role that GIZ played in shaping a framework that will greatly enhance Zambia’s capacity to effectively prosecute economic and financial crimes. She emphasised that the guidelines will serve as a critical resource for prosecutors,

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), successfully obtained a non conviction based forfeiture order in a matter which was argued before a panel of three High Court Judges, Honourable Justices Susan Wanjelani, Pixie Yangailo, and Vincent Siloka. The case, initiated on 20 January 2025, centered around Mimy Eid Alsyed Abouelnaga, an Egyptian national who, according to immigration records, entered Zambia on 30 July 2024 under a single-entry visitor visa that prohibited any business activity. However, in a routine immigration operation on August 6, 2024 in Lusaka’s Rhodes Park area, Abouelnaga was found openly marketing household goods from a Toyota Noah (Reg: ALL 8693). He even sold a blue blanket to one of the officers during the operation, an act that ultimately formed the basis of the case. Upon interrogation and verification, it became clear that Abouelnaga was in direct breach

The National Prosecution Authority today kicked off the Kabwe leg of it’s training of prosecutors in Sexual Violence and Child Protection.The trainings sponsored by UNICEF are based on the 2nd edition of the NPA’s Sexual Violence Handbook and the newly developed Prosecutors’ Guidelines for Children in the Justice System. 25 participants have been drawn from Kabwe and Itezhi-Tezhi districts respectively.The training team is being lead by Mrs Chali Mbewe Hambayi, head of the Gender Based Crimes and Child Protection Department. Her co facilitators are Mr Chipola Bako ,head of Lusaka Province and senior Public Prosecutor Mrs Grace Muhumpu.The trainings are aimed at ensuring that Prosecutors conduct victim and child friendly prosecutions which prevent retraumatisation and foster perpetrator accountability.The NPA is desirous of building a cadre of Prosecutors that are able to robustly implement trauma informed approaches in the prosecuton of

Lusaka | July 15, 2025 – Zambia’s fight against organised crime took a bold step forward yesterday as the learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri SC, opened a high-level training on Non-Conviction Based Forfeiture (NCBF), bringing together all major enforcement and oversight agencies under one roof. The week-long session, hosted by the Basel Institute at the Intercontinental Hotel, is being attended by representatives from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), the Judiciary, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), and others. In an unfiltered opening address, DPP Phiri tore into misconceptions surrounding asset forfeiture laws, describing them as misunderstood even by the most seasoned senior advocates. He emphasised that Non Conviction Based Forfeiture is not about political persecution but it is about crippling sophisticated criminal networks driven by greed and hidden behind polished

In a resounding confirmation of Zambia’s intolerance for hate speech, the Kasama High Court has upheld the conviction of former government minister Chishimba Kambwili, dismissing his appeal against a five-month sentence with hard labour. The ruling, delivered by a panel of three High Court Judges, comes nearly two years after Kambwili’s controversial remarks on a local radio program which were deemed to be hateful and demeaning toward the Tonga-speaking people. The original conviction was handed down on November 30, 2023, by the Subordinate Court in Kasama. Kambwili had been found guilty under Section 70(1) of the Penal Code, which criminalises expressing or showing hatred, ridicule, or contempt against individuals based on tribe or place of origin. His inflammatory statements were made during a live broadcast at Radio Mano Community Radio Station on August 2, 2021. The court ruled that the

Lusaka, 10 July 2025 – Senior staff from the National Prosecution Authority, Financial Intelligence Centre, Anti‑Corruption Commission, Zambia Police Service, and other Inter‑Agency Framework institutions convened at the Southern Sun Hotel for an important Scoping Mission on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Financial Investigations & Asset Recovery Curriculum Implementation. With all 21 member agencies of the Framework having formally endorsed the curriculum in January 2024, the focus turned to breathing life into it through strategic planning. Developed under Zambia’s Inter‑Agency Framework and funded by the EU AML‑CFT ESCAY programme, the curriculum standardises training across law enforcement, prosecution, and asset-recovery functions. It blends regional best practices with local insights to create a robust, unified toolkit for financial crime response. The Learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri SC, framed the day as the vital turning point between intention

No pause. No delay. From the moment of their inauguration, the newly appointed NPA Board – led by Chairperson Mr. Moses Phiri signalled its intent to get straight to work. Within minutes, the Board transitioned from ceremony to an intensive orientation with senior management, setting a tone of urgency, purpose, and engagement. Mr. Phiri is not a figurehead. He brings hands-on leadership, clarity of purpose, and a readiness to align the Board’s oversight with the institution’s operational demands. They have reported for duty.Fully present.Fully engaged.And already to work.