AGA-Africa Programme International Advisor, John Edozie, and Country Coordinator for Zambia Dr. Freda Mwamba-Brazle, represented the Programme’s leadership at the National Inaugural Prosecutors Conference on 21st-25th August, 2023, where distinguished delegates converged for Zambia’s first nationwide prosecutors’ conference in Livingstone, Zambia.
The five-day conference themed ‘Prosecutorial Excellence in Economic and Financial Crimes in the Digital Era: Resilience and Reinvention of Strategies’ brought together prosecutors from the National Prosecution Authority, Zambia (NPA) and law enforcement agencies with delegated prosecutorial authority.
The AGA-Africa Programme brought in 2 regional subject matter experts: Dr. Osei Bonsu Dickson, Chief Legal Advisor, Ministry of National Security and Chair, Cyber X Africa Planning Committee who spoke on ‘Challenges in Investigating, Prosecuting & Adjudication of Asset Forfeiture Case; A Ghanaian Perspective’ and Alloys Kemo, Deputy Director, Prosecution Training Institute Kenya who spoke on ‘Challenges in Investigating, Prosecuting & Adjudication of Asset Forfeiture Case; A Kenyan Perspective’.The conference was officially opened by Graphel Musamba, Inspector General of Police, Zambia Police Service. Among the speakers were Mulambo Haimbe, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Zambia and Gilbert Phiri, Director Public Prosecutions, National Prosecution Authority.
In his remarks on behalf of His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia, Mulambo Haimbe, Minister of Justice, observed that economic and financial crimes severely affected the vulnerable members of the society. He added that prosecutors ought to be innovative and resilient in prosecution of criminals who are using sophisticated technology in their illicit activities.
On his part, AGA-Africa Programme’s International Advisor John Edozie noted thus: “The pursuit of prosecutorial excellence is an investment in a safer, more just world for generations to come.”
Other distinguished guest speakers were His Lordship Hon. Justice Mumba Malila, Chief Justice of Zambia, Dr. Linda Naidoo, Project Officer for Gender Based Violence, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for South Africa (UNODC), Satyjiy Boolell, Former Director Public Prosecutions Mauritius, Barnabas Mwansa, Child Protection Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Eng. Choolwe Nalubamba, Director General, Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority, Greenwell Lyempe, Zambia Deputy Ambassador to Egypt, Musa Mwenye SC, Board Chairperson, Anti-Corruption Commission and Liya Tembo, Director General, Financial Intelligence Centre.
Gilbert Phiri, Director Public Prosecutions, National Prosecution Authority, Zambia delivered closing remarks bringing the conference to a close.
