In a move to combat the growing issue of stock theft in the country, the Criminal Procedure Code Amendment Bill Number 19 of 2023 has successfully passed its second reading in the Zambian Parliament. The proposed amendment seeks to make stock theft a non-bailable offense, as put forward by the government.
Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe presented the bill in Parliament, highlighting the increasing prevalence of stock theft in Zambia. The proposed amendment aims to create a strong deterrent for potential offenders by introducing stricter penalties under the penal code, specifically targeting repeat offenses of stock theft, which would not be eligible for bail.
Minister Haimbe noted that in several jurisdictions, non-bailable offenses are reserved for issues considered prevalent and serious. The bill has now been referred to the committee of the whole house for further consideration and deliberation.
A person who needs bail is still a suspect and therefore not pronounced guilty. Making it non bailable technically means punishing a person who’s innocent.
Also, increasing punishment after a crime is committed doesn’t help, instead we need to invest in preventing those crimes from happening
Auto theft is non-bailable. Stock theft should be non-bailable. Only those who steal cows from other people are against this law. This is good because this should stop the stealing of livestock
It’s a bad Law. At the moment we should be thinking about increasing the number of offenses that should qualify for bail. No one should be held in custody unless they’re convicted. What Zambians want is for you to abolish the POA, not these targeted laws. With our useless Judiciary some people might be in custody longer than the maximum sentence for the crime.
It is an excellent law. No more stealing of cows. The culture of stealing has to be ended.
Nothing will stop stealing even capital punishment.
Arrest that monkey fugitive Kaizar first
The prisons are full and with high cost of unga prisoners are not being fed under upnd. So this is f00lish bill. Introduce this bill in 2026 when upnd lose and we prosecute them for theft
Iwe, ba kufuna kuno, ulikuti? Wa ngenesa banzako mu mabvuto!
This is so progressive. Anything to deter would be is welcome. I once lost 35 goats one night. This is not want we want. we are hustling everyday and someone just walk in and get what is not theirs. Half of the meat sold at Soweto is stolen from Mumbwa and shibuyunji areas.
Stop being emotional just because you lost property. Bad laws are not a solution to your woes. That bad law will one day haunt you or your loved ones. Tough sentence should only be for convicts, not suspects
I know the feeling you are so right
only those sitting on their butts will disagree
@Umuntu: This law will never haunt my family. We raise cows. We do not steal them. I am not sure why you seem to think that every family steals, or will eventually steal cows
As Zambia is today and the culture evolved from the past
show me someone who is not a thief even if its a chicken, egg, or a pen or papers from place of work
Stock theft should always carry a hefty penalty
Heavy penalty should be for someone who’s convicted and not a suspect. A suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty. What if someone falsely accuses you of stock theft? By the time you’re acquitted by the courts, you would have spent years in custody for a crime you didn’t commit. Be careful
In Zambia, stealing a car is a non-bailable offense because it affects them. Stealing a cow should not be non-bailable because when the thieves steal cows, they sell them to buy cars? Please implement this law already. Jail without bail is where we need to be
#Nega Nega motor vehicle theft bail condition has been repealed.
AND YET WE HIT CORRUPTION WITH BABY PUNCHES. OM NOW THAT YOU HAVE SORTED ONE PROBLEM FOR CERTAIN REGIONS PLEASE MAKE CORRUPTION NON BAILABLE TOO. THE ALSO REMOVE IMMUNITY FOR THE PRESIDENT SO THAT THEY FACE THE LAW FOR ANY CRIMES COMMITTED WHILE IN OFFICE.
What you are saying is that the law should be made as weak as possible so that stealing is not discouraged? If you are not stealing other people’s cows, why are you worried about strictly rustling laws? I completely support this law as part of a change and challenge to the culture of stealing.