The Mkukula Magistrate’s Court in Lumbadzi has granted a reprieve to former Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC), Colleen Zamba, stopping two arrest warrants issued against her. Magistrate Kondani Chinangwa ruled that the arrest warrants were too harsh and unnecessary, opting instead for a summons to bring her to court.
The court acknowledged that Zamba is already on bail in two other cases and has not breached any of the conditions. This, the magistrate said, made the arrest warrants unwarranted. The two cases in question, number 266 of 2026 and 286 of 2026, were confirmed by the court to have been properly registered and initiated by the government.
Zamba’s lawyer, George Kadzipatike, had petitioned the court to cancel the warrants and summon his client instead, citing Section 84 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code. Magistrate Chinangwa agreed, emphasizing the need for judges to wield their power to issue arrest warrants judiciously.
In his ruling, Magistrate Chinangwa stressed that arrest warrants infringe on a person’s freedom and should only be used as a last resort. “An arrest warrant takes away a person’s freedom,” he said, adding that it should only be used if the person might flee, breach bail conditions, or ignore a summons.
The court’s decision brings relief to Zamba, who will now face the charges against her without the threat of arrest looming over her head. The ruling also underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rights of the accused and ensuring that the power to issue arrest warrants is not abused.
As the case against Zamba proceeds, the court will ensure that she is given a fair hearing, in line with the principles of justice and fairness. For now, Zamba can breathe a sigh of relief, having avoided the ignominy of arrest and detention.
