Zambia Case Law

Kosamu Siwale (Suing as an Administrator of the Estate of the late Agippa Siwale) v Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (2023/HP/1865)

Kosamu Siwale (Suing as an Administrator of the Estate of the late Agippa Siwale) v Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (2023/HP/1865) [2025] ZMHC 134 (30 December 2025)

Court

High Court of Zambia

Case number

2023/HP/1865

The Collective Agreement did not define 'full benefits' for summary dismissal as three months' basic pay per year served. The applicable law and practice entitled the dismissed employee only to accrued leave days and outstanding wages up to the date of dismissal. The claim for enhanced terminal benefits fails.

Source excerpt

• Summary dismissal
• Collective agreements
• Terminal benefits
• Interpretation of employment contracts

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Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc v Varlostyle Digital Home Limited and Ors (2024/HPC/0399)

Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc v Varlostyle Digital Home Limited and Ors (2024/HPC/0399) [2025] ZMHC 137 (30 December 2025)

Court

High Court of Zambia

Case number

2024/HPC/0399

The High Court dismissed a second defendant’s bid to join a firm as a party and file a counterclaim, holding the fraud allegations were unrelated to the mortgage action.

• Joinder of parties
• Counterclaim
• Mortgage enforcement
• Fraud allegations
• Joinder-of-parties
• Mortgage-enforcement

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James Pelekelo v Tongguan Mines Construction & Zambia Limited and Anor (2023/HP/2088)

James Pelekelo v Tongguan Mines Construction & Zambia Limited and Anor (2023/HP/2088) [2025] ZMHC 131 (29 December 2025)

Court

High Court of Zambia

Case number

2023/HP/2088

The High Court held both defendants liable for negligence and statutory breach after a mining accident, but reduced damages by 15% for contributory negligence.

• Negligence
• Employer's duty of care
• Statutory liability
• Personal injury
• Contributory negligence
• Vicarious liability

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Picla Women Empowerment Limited v Mercy Chileshe Lengwe (2021 /HN /186)

Picla Women Empowerment Limited v Mercy Chileshe Lengwe (2021 /HN /186) [2025] ZMHC 145 (26 December 2025)

Court

High Court of Zambia

Case number

2021 /HN /186

High Court judgment for a village banking lender: the defendant was found indebted in K477,376.31, with interest and costs awarded to the plaintiff.

• Village banking
• Loan recovery
• Burden of proof
• Specific performance
• Village-banking
• Loan-recovery

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Fitaliano Mwila and Anor v Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited (2019/HP/0582)

Fitaliano Mwila and Anor v Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited (2019/HP/0582) [2025] ZMHC 149 (26 December 2025)

Court

High Court of Zambia

Case number

2019/HP/0582

The defendant, as the employer and sponsor of the pension scheme, was involved in the payment process and unilaterally varied the pension scheme from defined benefit to defined contribution without the plaintiffs' consent, resulting in delayed and reduced pension payments. The plaintiffs are entitled to damages for the delay and interest on the benefits due.

Source excerpt

• Pension scheme administration
• Defined benefit vs defined contribution
• Damages for delayed payment
• Variation of employment terms

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Picla Women Empowerment Limited v Falka Mubikayi (2022/HN/256)

Picla Women Empowerment Limited v Falka Mubikayi (2022/HN/256) [2025] ZMHC 146 (26 December 2025)

Court

High Court of Zambia

Case number

2022/HN/256

The High Court declined to commit the defendant for contempt over unpaid settlement sums and dismissed a challenge to a writ of fieri facias.

• Contempt of court
• Enforcement of judgments
• Writ of fieri facias
• Mediation settlement
• Contempt-of-court
• Enforcement-of-judgments

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Felix Nkululumbwe v Charles Musonda and Ors (APPEAL/083/2021)

Felix Nkululumbwe v Charles Musonda and Ors (APPEAL/083/2021) [2025] ZMCA 184 (24 December 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

APPEAL/083/2021

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appellant’s land appeal, holding he proved no written sale agreement and sued the wrong parties for specific performance.

• Specific performance
• Title to land
• Statute of frauds
• Limitation of actions
• Fraud in land transactions
• Specific-performance

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Felix Nkululumbwe v Charles Musonda and 17 Ors and Anor (APPEAL/083/2021; CAZ/08/375/2020)

Felix Nkululumbwe v Charles Musonda and 17 Ors and Anor (APPEAL/083/2021; CAZ/08/375/2020) [2025] ZMCA 188 (24 December 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

APPEAL/083/2021 ; CAZ/08/375/2020

The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal over disputed land, finding no written contract from ZCCM, no proved fraud, and no basis for specific performance.

• Specific performance
• Land ownership
• Title to land
• Fraud in land transactions
• Limitation of actions
• Specific-performance

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People v Attorney General and Ors (2025/HP/0482)

People v Attorney General and Ors (2025/HP/0482) [2025] ZMHC 152 (22 December 2025)

Court

High Court of Zambia

Case number

2025/HP/0482

The High Court granted mandamus to compel the Minister to determine an appeal under the Zambia Wildlife Act within 90 days, but refused mandamus on a wildlife impact assessment.

• Judicial review
• Mandamus
• Statutory duty
• Wildlife conservation
• Access to information
• Judicial-review

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Jimmy Kalumbe v Nordic Minerals Limited and Anor (CAZ/08/469/2025)

Jimmy Kalumbe v Nordic Minerals Limited and Anor (CAZ/08/469/2025) [2025] ZMCA 187 (22 December 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Zambia

Case number

CAZ/08/469/2025

The Court of Appeal of Zambia dismissed an application to strike out an appeal, holding that the memorandum of appeal, though lengthy, sufficiently stated a clear complaint.

• Appeals
• Memorandum of appeal
• Grounds of appeal
• Irregularity
• Civil-procedure
• Grounds-of-appeal

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