Zambia Leads the Way in Fight Against Financial Crime

Zambia has been singled out as a continental leader in the fight against economic and financial crime, with its specialist courts recovering hundreds of millions in stolen assets since their launch just four years ago.

The recognition came during a practical workshop on adjudicating money laundering and corruption matters in Southern Africa, held at David Livingstone Lodge and Spa. South African financial crimes specialist Hermione Cronje told delegates that Zambia's track record of asset recovery had earned it a reputation that extended well beyond its borders. "We always say Zambia is a leading country in fighting economic and financial crimes," she said.

Chief Justice Dr Mumba Malila confirmed the scale of the achievement. Since the Economic and Financial Crimes Court was operationalised on 7 January 2022, it has overseen the forfeiture of over K321 million, more than US$28 million, and significant sums in sterling, euros and other currencies. These assets were seized from those unable to explain how they had acquired them.

Dr Malila was candid about the obstacles the courts have faced. Defendants and their legal teams have deployed what he called "Fabian tactics", deliberate procedural delays, manufactured illness, and waves of preliminary objections designed to frustrate proceedings. He pointed to one case that ran for nearly twenty years before a conviction was finally confirmed. Yet he expressed confidence that the most disruptive tactics have now been tested and exhausted, and that future cases will move considerably faster.

The significance of this progress cannot be overstated. Every kwacha recovered from corrupt actors is a kwacha that can be directed toward schools, hospitals, roads, and the public services that underpin daily life. A justice system that works swiftly and without fear is not an abstract institution. It is one of the most powerful tools a government possesses for delivering a better standard of living to its people.