Zambia National Prosecution Authority Establishes Green Crime Department

• The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has established an Environmental and Wildlife Crime Department.
• The department aims to address environmental and wildlife-related crimes, which have been a concern in Zambia.
• The creation of the department may impact how prosecutions are handled in these areas, potentially leading to more stringent enforcement actions.

The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has established an Environmental and Wildlife Crime Department to enhance handling of green criminology. This move is one of the significant achievements for NPA in the last five years, according to Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri. The department's creation aims to address environmental and wildlife-related crimes, which have been a concern in Zambia. Phiri highlighted that environmental and wildlife crime was previously considered 'low-hanging fruit' due to its relatively low priority.

The establishment of the Environmental and Wildlife Crime Department is a response to growing concerns over environmental and wildlife-related crimes in Zambia. Green criminology, an emerging field that focuses on environmental crimes, has gained attention globally. In Zambia, environmental crimes include deforestation, pollution, and wildlife poaching. The NPA's move reflects a shift towards prioritizing environmental and wildlife crime prosecution, which may have implications for lawyers and compliance officers in the country.

The creation of the Environmental and Wildlife Crime Department is significant because it signals a renewed focus on environmental and wildlife-related crimes. This development may impact how prosecutions are handled in these areas, potentially leading to more stringent enforcement actions. Lawyers and compliance officers in Zambia should be aware of this change and its potential implications for their work.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Zambia should watch for the NPA's new Environmental and Wildlife Crime Department, which may impact environmental and wildlife-related prosecutions and enforcement actions.

Source: Original reporting via Zambia Daily Mail