Zambia Case Law

G & H Transport Limited v Author Lukumba and Ors (APPEAL NO. 158/2023)

G & H Transport Limited v Author Lukumba and Ors (APPEAL NO. 158/2023) [2025] ZMCA 172 (21 August 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

APPEAL NO. 158/2023

The Respondents were employees of the Appellant and were unfairly and wrongfully dismissed without being given an opportunity to be heard, in breach of statutory requirements. The award of 24 months' salary plus interest as damages was justified due to the aggravated circumstances. Costs were not warranted as there was no unreasonable conduct during proceedings. The 3rd Respondent, having been convicted and imprisoned, was not entitled to damages.

Source excerpt

• Wrongful dismissal
• Unfair dismissal
• Constructive dismissal
• Employment contracts
• Damages
• Costs

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Scaw Limited v Lewis Chola and Anor (Appeal No 182/2023)

Scaw Limited v Lewis Chola and Anor (Appeal No 182/2023) [2025] ZMCA 173 (21 August 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

Appeal No 182/2023

The trial Court was justified in awarding damages beyond the contractual notice periods due to the gross procedural unfairness in the manner of dismissal, the emotional and reputational distress suffered by the Respondents, and the impact on their future employment prospects. These exceptional circumstances were supported by evidence and warranted a departure from the standard measure of damages.

Source excerpt

• Wrongful dismissal
• Damages for unfair termination
• Procedural fairness in employment
• Measure of damages in employment contracts

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Ruida Investment Limited v Webby Kyayuwa (Appeal No 175/2023)

Ruida Investment Limited v Webby Kyayuwa (Appeal No 175/2023) [2025] ZMCA 178 (21 August 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

Appeal No 175/2023

The appeal was dismissed because the appellant failed to plead and prove contributory negligence, the damages awarded by the trial court were justified and supported by evidence and precedent, and there was no legal basis for a mandatory one-third contingency deduction. The trial court's findings and quantum of damages were reasonable and not based on any misdirection or misapprehension of law or fact.

Source excerpt

• Employer's liability
• Negligence
• Contributory negligence
• Assessment of damages
• Personal injury

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Protea Hotels Zambia v Longa William Mulikelela (APPEAL 179/2023)

Protea Hotels Zambia v Longa William Mulikelela (APPEAL 179/2023) [2025] ZMCA 116 (20 August 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

APPEAL 179/2023

The court found that the lower court erred in holding the dismissal as unfair; it was wrongful due to procedural impropriety—specifically, the charging officer also chaired the disciplinary hearing, breaching natural justice. However, as the Respondent's commission of a dismissable offence was not established beyond dispute, the dismissal was wrongful, not justified. The award of six months' salary as damages was upheld as fair in the circumstances.

Source excerpt

• Wrongful dismissal
• Unfair dismissal
• Natural justice
• Damages

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Zambia Revenue Authority v Nestlé Zambia Limited (APPEAL NO. 03/2021)

Zambia Revenue Authority v Nestlé Zambia Limited (APPEAL NO. 03/2021) [2025] ZMSC 20 (20 August 2025)

Court

Supreme Court of Zambia

Case number

APPEAL NO. 03/2021

The Supreme Court of Zambia addressed burden of proof, transfer pricing aggregation, documentation, comparables, and distributor risk in an appeal by ZRA.

• Transfer pricing
• Burden of proof in tax appeals
• Comparability analysis
• Tax assessment
• Multinational enterprise taxation
• Transfer-pricing

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Isaac Chulu v The People (APPEAL NO: 69 2024)

Isaac Chulu v The People (APPEAL NO: 69 2024) [2025] ZMCA 113 (20 August 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

APPEAL NO: 69 2024

The appellant's intention to cause death or grievous harm was established by his threats and deliberate actions before the shooting. The defence of provocation was not available as the deceased's conduct did not meet the legal threshold, and there were no extenuating circumstances to justify a lesser sentence. The conviction for murder and the sentence of life imprisonment were upheld.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Malice aforethought
• Provocation
• Sentencing
• Appeals

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Joseph Chanda v The People (Appeal 72/2024)

Joseph Chanda v The People (Appeal 72/2024) [2025] ZMSC 21 (20 August 2025)

Court

Supreme Court of Zambia

Case number

Appeal 72/2024

The Court of Appeal of Zambia upheld a murder conviction, holding that the circumstantial evidence formed a cogent chain permitting only an inference of guilt.

• Murder
• Circumstantial evidence
• Standard of proof
• Appeals
• Circumstantial-evidence
• Criminal-appeal

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Jason Simbeye v The People (APPEAL NO:74 2024)

Jason Simbeye v The People (APPEAL NO:74 2024) [2025] ZMCA 106 (20 August 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

APPEAL NO:74 2024

The Court of Appeal allowed a criminal appeal, holding that the circumstantial evidence did not safely prove the vehicle and bag were linked to the robbery.

• Armed robbery
• Circumstantial evidence
• Chain of custody
• Identification evidence
• Standard of proof
• Criminal-law

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Attorney General v Pythias Simukonda (Appeal No. 180/2023)

Attorney General v Pythias Simukonda (Appeal No. 180/2023) [2025] ZMCA 117 (20 August 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

Appeal No. 180/2023

The Court of Appeal set aside a default judgment against the State for non-compliance with section 22 of the State Proceedings Act and sent the matter back for trial.

• Default judgment
• Setting aside judgment
• Service of process
• State proceedings
• Default-judgment
• Setting-aside-judgment

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Vinod Yaddula and Muvi TV Limited v Panyam Vikram Deva Reddy (APPEAL No. 133 of 2023 (Consolidation of CAZ/08/557/2022 & CAZ/08/526/2022))

Vinod Yaddula and Muvi TV Limited v Panyam Vikram Deva Reddy (APPEAL No. 133 of 2023 (Consolidation of CAZ/08/557/2022 & CAZ/08/526/2022)) [2025] ZMCA 114 (20 August 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

APPEAL No. 133 of 2023 (Consolidation of CAZ/08/557/2022 & CAZ/08/526/2022)

The Court of Appeal upheld liability against the first appellant for defamation but set aside liability against Muvi TV after accepting its justification defence.

• Libel
• Justification
• Fair comment
• Damages
• Malice
• Burden of proof

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