Criminal Procedure and Practice in Zambia: An Introduction sheds light on important topics such as the sources of criminal law in Zambia; the criminal justice institutions; the court system; the arrest process and procedure; components of a criminal trial; proceedings against juveniles; and sentencing and punishment. Criminal Procedure and Practice in Zambia is a complete guide to criminal law and procedure in Zambia and more than acquits itself as an introductory book. It also cites relevant and seminal case law on many of the topics covered. 

Table of Legislation

Table of Cases

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL LAW IN ZAMBIA

• Sources of Criminal Law

CHAPTER 2: CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTIONS IN ZAMBIA

• National Prosecutions Authority
• Zambia Police Service
• Anti-Corruption Commission
• Financial Intelligence Centre
• Drug Enforcement Commission
• Immigration Department
• Road Transport and Safety Agency
• Ad hoc institutions

CHAPTER 3: THE COURT SYSTEM IN ZAMBIA

• Jurisdiction
• The Supreme Court
• The Constitutional Court
• The Court of Appeal
• The High Court
• The Court-martial
• The Subordinate Court
• The Local Court

CHAPTER 4: THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

• Appointment
• Powers
• Consent to prosecute
• Instructions
• Discontinuance of proceedings

CHAPTER 5: CHARGE SHEET AND INFORMATION

• Charge Sheet
• Information
• Objections to a charge or information
• Amendment of a charge or information
• Joinder of counts
• Joinder of accused persons

CHAPTER 6: THE ARREST PROCESS AND PROCEDURE

• Cognizable and non-cognizable offences
• Arrest with warrant
• Arrest without warrant
• Search warrant
• Illegally obtained evidence

CHAPTER 7: BAIL APPLICATIONS

• Bailable and unbailable offences
• Police bond
• Bail pending trial
• Bail pending confirmation
• Bail pending appeal
• Constitutional Bail

CHAPTER 8: TRIAL PROCESS

• Taking of plea
• Plea of guilty
• Withdrawal of plea
• Admission of guilty procedure
• Plea of insanity
• Submission of case to answer
• Case stated
• Review
• Sentencing
• Judgment

CHAPTER 9: PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JUVENILES

• Practice and procedure of Juvenile Courts
• Exceptions

CHAPTER 10: OTHER COMPONENTS OF TRIAL

• Inquests
• Trial-within-a-trial
• Voire Dire
• Preliminary inquiries

CHAPTER 11: PUNISHMENT

• Forms of punishment

Annexure 1: The Criminal Procedure Code Act

Annexure 2: The Penal Code Act

Index

Law students and legal practitioners in Zambia and elsewhere will welcome this publication, given the scarcity of books on the subject and the topics covered. The manner in which the book is written also makes it informative for avid readers who may not be lawyers or students of law. 

As a first of its kind in this jurisdiction, the book is a must-have for all judges and magistrates, lawyers, academics, law students and the general public as it is offering quick, summarised and yet comprehensive and informative tips on the anatomy of criminal procedure and practice in Zambia. It is recommended as a companion for students pursuing the Legal Practitioners’ Qualifying Examination Course at the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE) and those pursuing studies at both undergraduate (LLB) and postgraduate (LLM) levels. It is also an indispensable text for those pursuing their pre-ZIALE course introduced by many law schools in the country.