Kambwili Convicted of Unlawful Assembly, Handed One-Year Suspended Sentence

The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has convicted former Cabinet Minister Chishimba Kambwili of unlawful assembly and sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended, over a gathering held at his Woodlands residence in January 2023.

Resident Magistrate Kawama Mwamfuli delivered the judgment on Monday, November 9, 2026, finding that the prosecution had proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt.

The case arose from a gathering on January 26, 2023, when between 15 and 20 youths entered Mr Kambwili’s premises carrying placards and singing a song containing tribal sentiments. The gathering was recorded by his media team and later posted on his Facebook page.

In her findings, the magistrate noted that Mr Kambwili later cautioned the youths against singing the song and engaging in hate speech. However, the court found that his role in facilitating the gathering made him criminally liable, despite him not having participated in the singing.

The court also held that the gathering, although initially lawful following prior notification to police, became unlawful because of the participants’ conduct, which was likely to provoke a breach of the peace.

It further ruled that holding the gathering at a private residence did not place it outside the law governing unlawful assembly.

Mr Kambwili was convicted under Section 75 of the Penal Code and handed a one-year suspended sentence.

The prosecution was conducted by Senior Public Prosecutor Lewis Loti of the National Prosecution Authority.