By Justine Akakulubelwa
Chief Justice MUMBA MALILA says economic and financial crimes continue to drain national resources and weaken economies across the region.
Speaking when he opened a workshop on adjudicating money laundering and corruption cases in East and Southern Africa, Dr. MALILA said the complexity of such offences has led many countries to establish specialised courts to ensure quicker and more effective handling of cases.
He said Zambia established the Economic and Financial Crimes Court in 2022 to speed up case resolution, reduce delays in the justice system and strengthen accountability in the fight against corruption.
Dr. MALILA said the specialised court has already helped conclude several cases and recover millions of dollars’ worth of assets believed to have been acquired through illicit means.
Speaking at the same meeting, Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum Coordinator SANGWANI NYIMBIRI said the forum provides a platform for Chief Justices in the region to discuss challenges affecting justice delivery and ways of strengthening judicial systems.
And Democratic Governance and Rights Unit Director VANJA KARTH said a regional study on the performance of anti-corruption courts has been underway since 2024, with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
