The Ozon Media

29/07/2025

GRZ OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE DEMAND TO INSPECT ECL'S BODY NOW

Pretoria- Tuesday, 29th July 2025

The Attorney General of the Republic of Zambia has made an urgent application to Mashele Attorneys, lawyers for the Edgar Lungu family, to be granted permission for the representative of the State to see and inspect the body of the late President.

In a letter dated 29th July 2025 VFV ATTORNEYS, lawyers stated that for this purpose, a representative had traveled to Pretoria for this purpose and was available beginning 29th July 2025 onwards to inspect the body of the late President.

The lawyers threatened that if permission was not granted they will beseech the Gauteng High Court,Pretoria Division to compel the family to give them permission.

The lawyers stated that they were seeking consent to attend at the funeral parlour where the body of the late President Lungu is currently being kept, "for the purpose of
identifying and authenticating the identity of the body!".

In its order of 25th June 2025, the High Court stated that; "Only the First to Seventh (Widow, Family and Spokesperson) Respondent's are permitted to visit and to inspect and/or allow further individuals to visit and to inspect the body of the late President".

Below is the Letter from VFV, lawyers for the Attorney General.

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA VS ESTHER LUNGU AND 7 OTHERS -
CASE NUMBER: 096565/2025

We refer to the court order issued by Deputy Judge President Ledwaba dated 25 June 2025, as amended on 26 June 2025.

2. In terms of the said order, we hereby formally request your consent to make the necessary arrangements for a representative of our client, to attend at the funeral parlour
where the body of the late President Lungu is currently being kept, for the purpose of
identifying and authenticating the identity of the body.

Our client's representative is available to carry out this process on any day from today onwards to Friday, 1 August 2025, at a time convenient to all parties concerned.

Kindly
indicate your availability and provide any specific requirements or conditions for access, if
applicable.

We wish to make it clear that we will have no objection if a representative or representatives of your clients would be present at all times.

4. We submit that this process will not cause any harm or prejudice to the family. It is a necessary and respectful step to bring certainty to a matter of public and personal
importance. In the circumstances, a refusal or failure to provide the necessary consent will regrettably compel our client to question the bona fides of the family's position, and we will be left with no alternative but to approach the court for appropriate relief.

We trust,
however, that this will not be necessary.

5.We look forward to your urgent response so that appropriate arrangements may be finalised without delay.

Yours faithfully,
VFV ATTORNEYS

Per: Hemisha Gihwala
(Sent electronically, therefore unsigned)

29/07/2025

DEC seizes Handa accounts over $ 670,000 cash
By Mast Report
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has seized two bank accounts holding over US$670,000 belonging to Handa Resources Ltd, majority-owned by Anglo American Exploration.

According to notices of seizure dated July 23, 2025 availed to The Mast, DEC has frozen account number 62913106036 with a balance of K869, 297. 50 and account number 62913106094 worth US$641,741.33 both held at the First National Bank (FNB).

“You are hereby notified that the goods described below have been seized in terms of Section 15 of Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001 as there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are liable to seizure,” the notices of seizure read in part.

Last week, the Kitwe High Court placed Handa Resources Limited into receivership following a debt claim by Zambia Mineral Exchange Corporation Limited.

According to an ex-Parte order dated July 14, 2025, the court invoked sections 4 and 12 of the Corporate and Insolvency Act and the appointed receiver has assumed control of Handa’s assets pending debt recovery.

29/07/2025

Opposition Leader Challenges Church to Rise Against Injustices

Democratic Union (DU) president Ackim Anthony Njobvu has issued a strong call to the Zambian Church, urging it to break its silence and take a bold stand against alleged injustices and human rights violations affecting ordinary citizens.

Speaking during an appearance on Christian Nation Sunday program, Njobvu lamented the Church’s perceived passivity in the face of growing concerns about political abuse and selective application of the law.

“The Church in Zambia is not doing enough. While politicians manipulate the law, the clergy are choosing silence over righteousness,” Njobvu said. “But let me remind the Church silence in the face of injustice is complicity.”

He emphasized that the Church, as the moral compass of the nation, holds a divine mandate to speak truth to power and defend the voiceless, drawing parallels with biblical prophets like Isaiah, Amos, and Jeremiah, who boldly confronted corrupt kings and called for justice.

“The Church is not just called to preach salvation on Sunday, but to protect the dignity of God’s people every day,” Njobvu declared.

The opposition leader expressed concern that the clergy were too confined by fear and political intimidation to challenge the status quo, a situation he described as “spiritual negligence.”

He further noted that the Democratic Union has been deliberately engaging church leaders to cultivate a shared vision for a just, inclusive, and morally upright Zambia.

“We want to build a nation where no Zambian is harassed or abused for their political views where laws serve the people, not the powerful. And we believe the Church must be our ally in this sacred cause,” he said.

Njobvu's remarks come amid growing accusations from opposition leaders and civil society organizations that the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is using state institutions to suppress dissent. The government has consistently denied these allegations.

Nonetheless, the DU president warned that when the Church retreats from its prophetic role, “the altar becomes complicit with the throne.” He urged the clergy to rise with one voice, echoing the words of Proverbs 31:8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

He concluded by saying that Zambia’s healing will not come from politics alone, but from moral courage rooted in faith, justice, and truth.

“The Church must not wait for change; it must become the change,” Njobvu said, appealing to pastors, bishops, and church elders to stand as guardians of the nation’s conscience.

©️ KUMWESU | July 29, 2025

29/07/2025

WHY ARE PRAISE SINGERS CATCHING FEELINGS?

I merely stated facts, akin to saying 1+1=2. I do not understand why anyone would catch feelings when I did not add my opinion in any way to the stated facts. Praise singers may find the irrefutable facts uncomfortable but I did not create them. I am merely stating them as they exist today: On assuming office in 2021, President Hichilema found five commissioners at the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) who were all appointed by his predecessor. These five were Ndiyoyi Mutiti, Vincent Mukanda, Ali Simwinga, Esau Chulu and Emily Sikazwe from Western, Northwestern, Northern, Eastern and Eastern provinces, respectively.

Since then, three commissioners have had their contracts not renewed by Hichilema. The latest occurred on 30 June 2025 when Ali Simwinga left the ECZ, following the earlier exits of Chulu and Sikazwe in 2022 whose contracts were also not renewed by Hichilema despite the fact that they, like Simwinga, were eligible for another seven year term. With Simwinga’s exit, the ECZ is now left with four commissioners, all from one region — Mwangala Zaloumis, Vincent Mukanda, Ndiyoi Mutiti, and McDonald Chipenzi.

So far, Hichilema has replaced departing commissioners with individuals from his region. What is wrong with stating these facts?

-Sishuwa Sishuwa

29/07/2025

MP Raises Alarm Over Controversial Sugilite Truck Disposal in Mansa

Nkana Member of Parliament Binwell Mpundu has expressed outrage over the outcome of the high-profile sugilite case in Mansa, describing it as "heartbreaking" and pledging to take the matter to Parliament for further scrutiny.

In a statement, Mpundu disclosed that the court proceedings surrounding a truckload of sugilite a highly valuable semi-precious mineral have concluded, with several high-ranking individuals acquitted while others were fined.

Those previously implicated include former Luapula Province officials such as the Provincial Minister, Permanent Secretary, District Commissioners, senior police officers, and known political cadres.

However, the most startling revelation, according to Mpundu, is that the impounded truck filled with sugilite was allegedly handed over to a named Indian businessman who was neither a party to the court case nor the license holder of the mine from which the minerals were extracted.

“This is unacceptable. A truck full of sugilite is a national asset that could finance critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and even offset the costs of unnecessary projects like the Ndola-Lusaka dual carriageway under the dubious PPP model,” Mpundu charged.

He accused the system of corruption and called the transaction “bogus,” warning that those responsible for such questionable dealings will be held accountable once a new government is in power.

“I will table this matter in Parliament. We need answers on why the sugilite was not seized by the state. Zambia’s mineral wealth must benefit its citizens, not enrich a few connected individuals,” he stated.

Mpundu reaffirmed his commitment to prudent resource management and promised that, under a future government, mineral resources like sugilite would be used to uplift local communities and boost national development.

The controversy has reignited public concern over transparency in the mining sector and the handling of Zambia’s natural resources especially in provinces like Luapula, which are rich in valuable minerals.

Meanwhile, efforts to get an official comment from the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, as well as the Anti-Corruption Commission, were still underway by press time.

©️ KUMWESU | July 29, 2025

29/07/2025

THE Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has disclosed that a syndicate of foreign nationals, working with some Zambians, illegally transferred over $100 million out of Zambia to the Middle East and Asia through 13 companies, all incorporated in 2023. Of the total amount, $75 million was transferred to companies in Asia, while $25 million went to companies in the Middle East. According to the FIC, the suspected economic activities of these companies included illegal mining, cross-border currency smuggling and illegal wildlife trade. It was further established that these companies were not tax compliant. The FIC’s 10th Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Trends Report indicated that while the company registration documents listed Zambian nationals as the beneficial owners of these companies, it...

29/07/2025

Farmers reject Bill 13..say the bill is a threat to land tenure security, accuses government of having crafted the land bill without consultation, alarmed with the provision in the Bill that grants the Chief Registrar of Lands sweeping powers to cancel Certificates of Title without due process
THE Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) has rejected the controversial Lands and Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill No. 13 of 2025, citing lack of consultation and potential threats to land ownership security.
ZNFU president Jervis Zimba said the Bill was crafted without any input from farmers, despite the sector being among the most vulnerable to land-related challenges.
“The proposed Lands and Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill, N.A.B. 13 of 2025, was drafted without consulting farmers—despite being the most affected stakeholders,” Zimba said. “This lack of engagement has led to deep dissatisfaction with the bill.”
Zimba acknowledged President Hakainde Hichilema’s efforts in recognising the challenges at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, including issues of multiple titles and disputes that have crippled confidence in land transactions.
“We welcome the President’s recognition of the ongoing land challenges at the Ministry, particularly the issue of multiple titles and the toll land disputes are taking on farmers,” he said. “These concerns reflect the everyday reality for many in the agricultural sector.”
However, he expressed alarm over one specific provision in the Bill that grants the Chief Registrar of Lands sweeping powers to cancel Certificates of Title without due process.
“Farmers view this as a threat to land security, which is the foundation of agricultural investment and financing,” he warned. “The provision, if enacted without adequate safeguards and broad-based consultation, risks eroding confidence in the land administration system.”
Zimba emphasized that the Union would not support any legislative change that puts the country’s food producers at risk of land insecurity.
“Without title deeds, farmers cannot access financing. Without financing, they cannot invest in production. This bill—if passed in its current form—will destabilise the agricultural sector,” he said.
The Union has since demanded that the government halt the legislative process and consult stakeholders extensively before proceeding.
“The Union fervently appeals to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to withdraw the bill from Parliament immediately and to initiate a transparent consultation process with all stakeholders, including the farming community,” Zimba said.
He said meaningful engagement is the only way to build consensus and address the land administration challenges without compromising property rights.
“Meaningful engagement is essential to ensure that any amendments protect the integrity of land ownership while addressing current challenges,” he concluded.
Bill No. 13 of 2025 has come under growing public criticism, with civil society organisations, opposition leaders, and now the farming sector raising alarm over the unilateral powers it proposes to give to the Chief Registrar. Critics argue the bill opens doors to potential abuse and threatens property rights protected under the Zambian Constitution.

Sylvia Masebo is the current minister of Lands

29/07/2025

THE LANDS AND DEEDS REGISTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL NO. 13 of 2025: A Step A STEP BACKWARD?

The other day, I listened keenly as various stakeholders appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Lands, and Natural Resources to make submissions on the proposed Lands and Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill No. 13 of 2025.

Among the submissions, I found the arguments advanced by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and Senior Counsel Dickson Jere to be particularly noteworthy and compelling. I have had a thought and a voice to add.

Before delving into a few thoughts of my own, allow me to provide some context. A Bill is a proposed law. It does not become law until the President of the Republic assents to it. This particular Bill seeks to amend the Lands and Deeds Registry Act, a statute first enacted in 1914, and later adopted post-independence as Chapter 185 of the Laws of Zambia.

The 2025 Amendment Bill primarily targets Sections 33 and 34 of the principal Act. These sections deal with the effect of a Certificate of Title and the conditions under which it may be cancelled or challenged.

Section 33 provides that once a Certificate of Title is issued under the Act, it becomes conclusive evidence of ownership as of its date. The registered owner holds the land absolutely, subject only to a few exceptions. A Certificate of Title may be challenged in court if:

• It was obtained through fraud;
• The land interest arises under a prior registered certificate;
• There are errors in boundary descriptions or easements.

These exceptions, however, must be established through court proceedings, not through administrative processes.

The Supreme Court emphasized this in the landmark case of Corpus Legal Practitioners v Mwanandani Holdings Ltd (ZMSC 131/2010), where it held that certificates of title are conclusive evidence of ownership and may only be cancelled through judicial, not administrative, action.

The other section being ammended is sectuon 34. This section reinforces tenure security and limits circumstances under which title may be cancelled. For avoidance of doubt, these include:

• Enforcement of a mortgage;
• Presidential repossession of state lease land due to default;
• Claims by individuals defrauded of their land;
• Misdescriptions or erroneous boundary inclusions.

Now, I must also point to Subsection 2 of Section 33, which further emphasizes that any such disputes shall be handled by the courts. This, thus, leaves no room for administrative cancellation by the Registrar.

What the Amendment Introduces
Contrary to the current law, the proposed Bill introduces a radical change. It provides in its preamble:
"The object of this Bill is to amend the Lands and Deeds Registry Act so as to:

(a) grant the Chief Registrar the power to cancel a Certificate of Title…"
This, in my view, is a fundamental shift from the current legal position. The Bill further introduces a three-tiered appeal mechanism:
1. First appeal to the Minister of Lands;
2. Then to the High Court.

At this juncture, I must hasten to mention that I have two main concerns with this Bill:

1. INDEPENDENCE OF THE APPEALS PROCESS
Under the proposed system, a person aggrieved by a cancellation by the Chief Registrar's decision must first appeal to the Minister of Lands, a political office that is structurally and administratively connected to the office of the Chief Registrar. Where both the Chief Registrar and the Minister may have had a prior personal, institutional or policy interest in the cancellation, true impartial adjudication becomes questionable. The idea that such appeals must go through administrative filters before reaching the courts may render justice a mere academic exercise.

This process could also prove to be tortuously long in that the Chief Registrar’s office is centralized in Lusaka and may be overburdened. Add to that the time it takes for the Minister to act and for a matter to reach the already congested courts, and the delays become substantial.

I personally have been handling a land matter dating back to 1997. This is testament to how long legal processes can take in our country.

By the time the issue is reaching the Supreme Court, it would be your great grand son inheriting the land. If he even does.

2. EROSION OF THE SEPARATION OF POWERS
The proposed amendment subtly undermines the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers. By interposing multiple layers of executive oversight before a court can intervene, the Bill indirectly ousters the jurisdiction of the judiciary. This is nothing short of a dangerous precedent.

The inclusion of courts at the tail-end of the process does not cure this defect. Again, it appears to me, a subliminal (and perhaps inadvertent) way of usurping the power of the judiciary and vesting it in the executive.

Justice must be accessible, efficient, and impartial. When access to courts is made unduly difficult or inordinately delayed, justice is denied.

In conclusion, this amendment may appear harmless on the surface, but it opens the door to executive overreach and administrative arbitrariness in matters of land title, an area that touches on the livelihoods and rights of millions of Zambians.

When laws strip courts of their central role in resolving disputes and instead vest those powers in political or administrative actors, the rule of law is weakened.
In my considered view, and on the strength of legal principle, judicial precedent, and the views of many seasoned voices, this is bad law.

Daniel Musonda Kaira, ASCZ, Esq
Senior Associate (CSLP)

28/07/2025

28/07/2025

ONE ZAMBIA, ONE REGION !

Ali Simwinga has left the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) after President Hichilema decided not to renew his contract as commissioner. He becomes the third commissioner to leave ECZ since the election of Hichilema who also did not renew the contracts of Esau Chulu and Emily Sikazwe. With Simwinga’s exit, the ECZ is now left with four commissioners, all from one region — Mwangala Zaloumis, Vincent Mukanda, Ndiyoi Mutiti, and McDonald Chipenzi.

- Sishuwa Sishuwa

28/07/2025