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ZambiaLII is a reliable and timely source of judicial decisions, legislation, and statutory instruments. The Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR), an independent, educational, and development-oriented research centre, hosts ZambiaLII.
Recent Judgments
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Lower court erred by ruling on a petition not before it and failing to decide the interlocutory stay; matter remitted for proper determination.
Constitutional jurisdiction; interlocutory stay of criminal proceedings; jurisdictional limits of civil courts; procedural fairness; volunteer ruling; remittal to lower court.
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13 March 2026 |
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Appellant proved defendant’s high-voltage breach caused fire; special damages unproven so nominal damages awarded.
Electricity supply — Breach of statutory duty (Regulations 6 & 8) — Excessive/high voltage — Causation — Metering point liability — Proof of special damages; nominal damages awarded.
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11 March 2026 |
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Specific performance affirmed; corporate veil piercing set aside; professional misconduct findings upheld.
Contract for sale of land — specific performance where title passed and purchaser in default; vacant possession — burden to prove squatters; notice to complete — elective remedy, not automatic rescission; legal practitioners — conflict of interest, professional misconduct; corporate personality — piercing veil only in exceptional fraud/sham circumstances.
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11 March 2026 |
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Specific performance granted only for available 2-acre title; assignments lodged during a subsisting caveat were irregular, and the balance refunded with interest.
Property law – contract of sale – extent of land sold – caveat effect – entries made during subsistence of caveat irregular; Limitation – land actions 12-year period; Specific performance – discretionary remedy and cannot affect rights of unjoined third-party title holders; Alternative damages – court must choose appropriate remedy.
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11 March 2026 |
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Plaintiffs proved false imprisonment and are awarded damages, but failed to prove malicious prosecution for lack of malice.
Malicious prosecution — elements: prosecution, favorable termination, absence of reasonable and probable cause, malice; False imprisonment — unlawful arrest, burden of proof; Damages — general, aggravated, exemplary; Effect of defendant's default on burden of proof.
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11 March 2026 |
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Leave to appeal granted due to significant procedural and substantive errors about an unsigned memorandum and the law on guarantees.
Civil procedure — Leave to appeal to Supreme Court under s.24(b) — Validity and effect of unsigned Memorandum of Appeal; Appellate jurisdiction and competence. Civil and contract law — Personal guarantees v performance bonds — construction of guarantees; conditional vs on-demand liability. Abuse of court process — institution of separate proceedings against guarantors. Public importance of appellate procedural regularity
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10 March 2026 |
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Appeal dismissed: occupation period, unjust enrichment, period-specific exchange rates and costs award were correctly applied by the assessor.
Assessment of damages – determination of occupation period and surrender by delivery of keys – unjust enrichment as bar to retaining benefit without restitution – conversion of foreign currency using period-specific Bank of Zambia rates – duty to mitigate – costs following the event.
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6 March 2026 |
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Defendant entitled to set off losses from thefts against unpaid invoices; exact losses to be assessed by the Registrar.
Contract/Commercial law – Guarding services – interpretation of deployment instruction (two officers per shift) – breach of duty of care/negligence – set-off under clause 6.4 – disputed invoice procedure (clause 6.3.3) – valuation of losses to be assessed by Registrar – interest and costs to abide assessment.
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5 March 2026 |
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Acting and responsibility allowances require formal appointment; whistleblower protection and constructive dismissal not established.
Employment law — acting and responsibility allowances — entitlement requires formal appointment; Whistleblower protection — good faith and procedural compliance required; Constructive dismissal — employee must prove employer’s conduct amounted to fundamental breach.
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5 March 2026 |
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Court dismissed both claim and counterclaim for want of prosecution due to inexcusable non-compliance with directions.
Civil procedure — dismissal for want of prosecution; failure to comply with orders for directions; inordinate/inexcusable delay; prejudice and risk to fair trial; dismissal of claim and counter-claim; costs — each party to bear own; leave to appeal granted.
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3 March 2026 |
Recent Legislation
| Act 18 of 1980 | 1 January 9999 | |
| Statutory Instrument 11 of 2026 | 13 February 2026 | |
| Statutory Instrument 10 of 2026 | 30 January 2026 | |
| Statutory Instrument 7 of 2026 | 23 January 2026 | |
| Statutory Instrument 8 of 2026 | 23 January 2026 | |
| Statutory Instrument 6 of 2026 | 16 January 2026 | |
| Statutory Instrument 4 of 2026 | 9 January 2026 | |
| Statutory Instrument 5 of 2026 | 9 January 2026 | |
| Statutory Instrument 3 of 2026 | 9 January 2026 | |
| Statutory Instrument 2 of 2026 | 2 January 2026 |
Recent Gazettes
| 14 November 2025 | |
| 7 November 2025 | |
| 31 October 2025 | |
| 31 October 2025 | |
| 31 October 2025 |
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