From Dump Sites to Courtrooms

NPA, LISWMC join forces to hold waste offenders accountable as Lusaka’s waste crisis takes a legal turn

By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24  -- 4-08-2026 --- The Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company (LISWMC) is joining forces with the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) to hold waste offenders accountable, as the fight against illegal dumping and environmental crimes takes a legal turn.

The partnership, formalised through a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will strengthen the prosecution of offences such as illegal dumping, vandalism of waste management infrastructure and failure to comply with solid waste management regulations.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri said the move marks a new approach in dealing with Lusaka’s waste challenges, which have for years been treated mainly as a municipal management problem rather than a criminal justice matter.

Mr Phiri said the continued dumping of waste in communities, blocking of drainage systems and creation of illegal dump sites have placed public health and residents’ safety at risk.

“For years we have seen indiscriminate dumping in our townships, clogging of drainage systems, illegal dump sites mushrooming overnight and garbage being disposed of in a manner that endangers lives,” Mr Phiri said.

He said waste management offences have not received the consistent prosecutorial attention they deserve despite the serious impact they have on communities.

Mr Phiri said the National Prosecution Authority has a constitutional responsibility to institute and conduct criminal prosecutions on behalf of the people of Zambia, adding that environmental crimes must also be treated seriously.

He said the Solid Waste Regulation and Management Act No. 20 of 2018, together with other laws, provides clear offences and penalties for those who disregard waste management regulations.

“Where there is an offence, there must be consequences. Where there are no consequences, we breed impunity. And where there is impunity, Lusaka cannot be clean,” he said.

Under the agreement, selected officers from LISWMC will be appointed as public prosecutors under Section 86 of the Criminal Procedure Code and will operate under the guidance and authority of the DPP.

Mr Phiri explained that the arrangement does not mean the NPA is taking over the responsibilities of LISWMC, but rather providing legal support to strengthen the company’s enforcement role.

“This MoU is not about the NPA taking over the work of Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company. It is about empowering and guiding your company to do its work within the framework of the law,” he said.

The partnership will also improve coordination between investigators and prosecutors, with the NPA committing to provide responses to requests for prosecutorial consent within 48 hours.

District-level focal points will also be established to support evidence gathering, investigations and preparation of cases before court.

Mr Phiri said successful prosecutions depend on the strength of investigations, warning that cases can collapse when evidence is poorly collected, chains of custody are broken or case files are incomplete.

He said the two institutions will conduct joint training, workshops and case reviews to equip inspectors, investigators and prosecutors with the skills required to handle environmental cases.

However, Mr Phiri emphasised that the partnership is not aimed at filling prisons with people who litter, but at preventing offences and creating deterrence.

“The law is a teacher. A single well-investigated, well-prosecuted and well-publicised case does more to change public behaviour than 100 warnings,” he said.

He said poor waste disposal has consequences beyond dirty streets, including blocked drainage systems that contribute to flooding, illegal dump sites that create health risks and improper disposal of hazardous waste that threatens the environment.

“These are matters that affect the poorest of our citizens the most. To prosecute them effectively is to deliver justice to the most vulnerable,” Mr Phiri said.

He added that the establishment of the Environmental and Wildlife Crime Department within the NPA demonstrates the authority’s commitment to strengthening enforcement of environmental laws.

Mr Phiri urged LISWMC officers who will work under the agreement to exercise their authority responsibly, professionally and without abuse, while respecting confidentiality, data protection laws and the rights of suspects and accused persons.

Meanwhile, LISWMC Managing Director Imuwana Mwanamwalye said the partnership comes at a time when the company continues to face challenges linked to illegal dumping, vandalism of public infrastructure and non-compliance with waste management regulations.

Mr Mwanamwalye said addressing these challenges requires more than waste collection and disposal efforts, but a coordinated response involving institutions responsible for enforcing the law.

“Addressing these challenges require more than operational interventions. There is need for a coordinated legal and institutional response that ensures such offences are appropriately prosecuted and compliance with the law is strengthened,” he said.

He said the MoU will provide a framework for structured information sharing, timely communication and closer cooperation between LISWMC and the NPA.

Mr Mwanamwalye said the partnership sends a strong message that public institutions are united in protecting the environment, safeguarding public health and promoting accountability.

He assured the NPA that LISWMC remains committed to ensuring that the agreement delivers meaningful results for residents of Lusaka.

The two institutions say the success of the partnership will not be measured by the signing of the agreement alone, but by whether illegal dumping is reduced, offenders are held accountable and Lusaka moves closer to becoming a cleaner and healthier city.