Criminal justice system in Zambia

This policy brief discusses the efficacy of Zambia's criminal justice system by focusing primarily on crime, policing, prosecution and more.

Since the re-introduction of multi-party democracy in Zambia in 1991, some progress has been registered in the governance system of the country, including its criminal justice system. However, many challenges remain across Zambia’s criminal justice institutions, and these inhibit the efficient and effective delivery of justice to its citizens.

One overarching structural problem centres on the uneasy coexistence of common and customary law. This gives rise to a troublesome paradox whereby the constitutionally recognised legal system is known and accessed by the few while the many - mostly rural people – only know, understand and access customary law.

This policy brief discusses the efficacy of Zambia’s criminal justice system by focusing primarily on crime, policing, prosecution, the judiciary, prison service, customary justice and international instruments. Virtually all these facets share the same weaknesses with regard to capacity, for example poor funding, inaccessible data, inadequate remuneration of staff, poor training, poor infrastructure, and human rights abuses. The policy brief also recommends requisite key reforms for each sector.

African Human Security Initiative