…as coalition for Christians projects women will use the new Act to settle personal scores against men
By Francis Chipalo
Christian Coalition – a political christian movement has urged government to make sexual offences bailable again.
The Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act No. 4 of 2026 recently came into force, making rape, defilement, and incest non-bailable offences.
Under the Act, anyone arrested for rape, defilement, or incest will be remanded in custody until trial. It states that no more police bond or court bail for suspects while awaiting trial.
The law followed judicial calls for reform in January 2026. Groups like Hope Affirmation Network Zambia (HANZ) had lobbied for years, arguing abusers were getting bail and intimidating victims.
HANZ Executive Director Nakiwe Simpungwe called it a “victory for the girl child” and said: “The law now stands between you and your abuser. He cannot bail out and wait for you by the school gate.
But speaking at a media briefing, on Friday, Christian coalition president, Clergy Chombela said the law should be revisited.
Chombela argued that the law is bound to abuse, with individuals using it to settle personal scores.
“We urge government to revisit this law as people would begin taking advantage and start settling personal scores. We appeal to the drafters to consider revising this law,” Chombela said.
“Keeping an accused person in remand is not right because everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he added.
Chombela also accused members of parliament of not doing enough, adding that there needed to be enough debate in parliament before arriving at the final decision, words echoed by coalition’s consultant, Prof. Charles Mwape.
Prof. Mwape added that the courts should be the ones to decide an accused person’s fate following court procedures as stipulated by the law.
As it stands, suspects in sexual offence cases now stay in custody until the case is heard.