Lusaka, 15th August 2024 – This morning, His Lordship the Hon. Chief Justice, Dr. Mumba Malila, SC, underscored the critical need for enhanced international collaboration to bolster the capacity of Zambia’s judiciary in handling complex economic and financial crimes. In a meeting with Mr. Garry Zaugg, Legal Advisor from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training, Dr. Malila highlighted the challenges faced by the judiciary and welcomed the prospect of targeted support from the U.S. Government.
Dr. Malila, accompanied by the Deputy Chief Justice Hon. Mr. Justice Michael Musonda, SC, Hon. Lady Justice Susan Wanjelani, Judge-in-Charge of the Economic and Financial Crimes Court, the Chief Administrator Ms. Nalishebo Imataa, and other senior judicial staff, engaged in discussions with Mr. Zaugg, who is on a mission to reinforce the U.S. Government’s commitment to Zambia’s anti-corruption efforts. The discussions focused on developing a comprehensive programme to enhance the technical skills of those within the Economic and Financial Crimes Court, particularly judges, magistrates, and prosecutors.
Mr. Zaugg, accompanied by Mr. Spencer Driscoll, Global Affairs Unit Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, and Ms. Fatima Sow, Global Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Embassy, emphasized the U.S. Government’s intent to identify the most effective opportunities for capacity building. “Our collaboration aims to equip Zambian prosecutors and investigators with the necessary knowledge to better understand and handle complex cases,” he stated.
He further noted the importance of identifying the specific challenges faced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court to tailor the support provided. “By understanding the intricacies of key cases and the obstacles encountered, we can develop a capacity-building programme that addresses Zambia’s unique needs,” Mr. Zaugg added.
In response, Chief Justice Malila reiterated the judiciary’s pressing need for substantial support in capacity building. “Our judges and magistrates are performing admirably under very difficult circumstances. Economic and Financial Crimes cases are inherently complex, requiring the absorption of vast amounts of information under tight timelines. Without essential tools, such as transcribers, achieving efficient resolutions becomes a formidable challenge,” Dr. Malila stated.
The Chief Justice’s call for collaboration reflects his commitment to strengthening the judiciary’s ability to adjudicate complex economic and financial crimes effectively. While in Zambia, Mr. Zaugg is expected to meet with other key government officials to identify further priority areas for U.S. technical assistance, reinforcing Zambia’s anti-corruption investigations and prosecutions.
