The Criminal Justice System in Zambia

This report chapter examines the nature and extent of crime in Zambia, highlighting systemic issues in the criminal justice system, pervasive corruption in public institutions, and the challenges of combating drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal migration.

• The Zambian criminal justice system exhibits a skewed nature where crime reporting and conviction rates vary significantly by province. In Copperbelt Province, which has the highest number of reported cases, only 47.44% were taken to court and 38.01% resulted in convictions. In Luapula Province, reported crimes are very low and convictions for cases taken to court were just under 10%.
• Public perception of crime in Zambia is high, with a 2005 Afrobarometer survey indicating that 59% of respondents feared a crime would be committed against them and 46% reported theft from their home. A separate survey of 100 participants found that 80% described crime levels as either 'high' or 'very high', with 95% of Lusaka participants sharing this view.
• Corruption is perceived as a systemic problem in Zambia, with the Zambia Police Service identified as the most corrupt institution. In 2003, the police accounted for 24.6% (112 cases) of corruption reports to the Anti-Corruption Commission, and in 2004, they remained the top slot with 25% (96 cases). Other highly reported institutions include local authorities, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Lands, and the judiciary.
• Zambia has evolved from a transit point for illicit drugs to a gateway and distribution center for drugs destined for North America and Europe. The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) reported dealing with 1,677 drug-related offences between January 2006 and May 2007, resulting in 1,627 convictions.
• Human trafficking occurs in Zambia, primarily as a source and transit country for victims—mainly children and young women—being moved to countries like South Africa. A 2006 Central Statistical Office study found that 6% of surveyed children reported being trafficked, with 77% of girls and 51% of boys reporting sexual abuse or forced prostitution during the process.
• Illegal migration is a significant challenge due to porous borders with Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zimbabwe. The Immigration Department lacks sufficient resources, such as speed boats for the Luapula River and four-wheel-drive vehicles for other borders, to effectively monitor these areas. In 2006, the department detained 3,056 illegal migrants.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2009). The Criminal Justice System in Zambia. https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/01-apr-2009-monograph-no-159-the-criminal-justice-system-in-zambia.-enhancing-the-delivery-of-security-in-africa-african-human-security-initiative/chapter-2-crime-in-zambia

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. The Criminal Justice System in Zambia. 2009. https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/01-apr-2009-monograph-no-159-the-criminal-justice-system-in-zambia.-enhancing-the-delivery-of-security-in-africa-african-human-security-initiative/chapter-2-crime-in-zambia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=The Criminal Justice System in Zambia |date=April 2009 |url=https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/01-apr-2009-monograph-no-159-the-criminal-justice-system-in-zambia.-enhancing-the-delivery-of-security-in-africa-african-human-security-initiative/chapter-2-crime-in-zambia |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2009criminal, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{The Criminal Justice System in Zambia}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/01-apr-2009-monograph-no-159-the-criminal-justice-system-in-zambia.-enhancing-the-delivery-of-security-in-africa-african-human-security-initiative/chapter-2-crime-in-zambia}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }