PRESS RELEASE

Lusaka, 18 May 2023 – The United Nations in Zambia, in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and supported by the American Government in Zambia, has launched a Forensic DNA Laboratory under the National Forensic Science and Biometrics Department that will offer the state-of-the-art analysis of DNA evidence in the resolution of sexual and other violent crimes, especially those perpetrated against children, women and other vulnerable groups.

Speaking at the launch on 16 May, the UN Resident Representative, Ms Beatrice Mutali said, “the establishment of this DNA Lab is a big and important step in our efforts to decrease the number of genuine cases lost in the judicial system as DNA is a powerful investigative tool. Therefore, strengthening the forensic system in Zambia is a big gamechanger for women and girls who fall victim to sexual offences,”

The UN Resident Coordinator underscored that the establishment of this DNA Lab is a big and important step in decreasing the number of genuine cases lost in the judicial system as DNA is a powerful investigative tool. Therefore, strengthening the forensic system in Zambia is a big gamechanger for women and girls who fall victim to sexual offences. The lab, which will be hosted by Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU), is the missing link in many sexual and gender based violent cases in Zambia. The forensic DNA evidence will annul the major setbacks in obtaining the much-needed justice for survivors of rape and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). With the establishment of the Forensic DNA laboratory, witness and survivor statements regarding the crime will now be corroborated by the DNA evidence.  

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Honourable Jack Mwiimbu, who was present at the launch and welcomed the Forensic DNA Lab as a development that has led the Government of the Republic of Zambia to re-commit itself to the national zero tolerance to GBV, “with the opening of the Forensic DNA laboratory, the Government of the Republic of Zambia re-comits itself to the national zero tolerance of GBV and to improve quality access to GBV response services”.

The Forensic DNA Laboratory, which is managed by the National Forensic Science and Biometrics Department, will categorize traces, isolate DNA, quantify and multiply DNA, and to profile/analyze the DNA. It is a Lab that expects to prioritize the examination of evidential material from the cases of SGBV, in order to support the investigations and resolution of these cases by the Zambia Police Service. The Forensic DNA Laboratory will also work with the; Zambia Police Service officers, and the medical officers from the Ministry of Health who handle evidential material for DNA analysis, in ensuring that the identification, collection, packaging, storage and transportation of the evidential material attain the acceptable International standards. Already 30 cases have been processed successfully and enabling conclusive investigations.

The United States through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and their cooperating partner, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), supported the acquisition of the equipment for Forensic DNA analysis valued whilst the United Nations in Zambia with the support of its cooperating partners, contributed to the partitioning of the Laboratory’s office space, procurement and installation of the air-conditioning systems, and the procurement of the first batch of reagents for DNA analysis.

Through the GRZ-UN Joint programme on GBV Phase II that involves UNDP, IOM, ILO, UNFPA and UNICEF, the UN in Zambia has been supporting the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security on prevention and response to GBV services. This has been made possible through support from the Governments of Ireland and Sweden.

The UN System in Zambia remains committed in the fight against GBV, which has been included as an important theme in our new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023-2027, to ensure continued work towards the achievement of gender equality as well as elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls ensuring access to justice, in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.

###

For more information, please contact:

Mark Maseko, National Information Officer

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lusaka,

P: +260-211-386200;

E: masekom@un.org