By 
Former Defence Minister, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, has appealed to the High Court for urgent medical intervention, citing the rapid progression of his prostate cancer and other serious health conditions.
Through his lawyers, Mwamba—who is serving a five-year sentence for corruption—has submitted a renewed bail application pending appeal, stressing the need for specialized medical treatment abroad.
Before his incarceration, he was receiving treatment for prostate cancer (ductal adenocarcinoma), rheumatic heart disease, heart rhythm disorders, and congenital heart disease in India and South Africa.
He has now disclosed that he is also battling colon cancer, diabetes, hypertension (both high and low), and pulmonary embolism, conditions requiring continuous medical attention.
Mwamba previously underwent high-dose brachytherapy in South Africa in 2017 and colon cancer surgery in India in 2022, regularly traveling for medical care.
However, since his imprisonment, he claims he has been denied access to essential treatment, worsening his condition.
His initial bail application, primarily based on his deteriorating health, was rejected on November 15, 2024, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court. Following this, he petitioned the Kasama High Court, seeking a declaration affirming his right to medical treatment despite being incarcerated.
He also requested an order directing authorities to evacuate him to South Africa and India for specialized care, offering to travel with a single prison officer at his own expense.
The Kasama High Court ruled in his favor, and a consent judgment between his legal team and the state sanctioned his immediate evacuation, pending the production of a medical report.
However, Mwamba asserts that despite legal approvals, the state has failed to produce the required report, stalling his evacuation.
On February 25, 2025, Home Affairs Minister, Jack Mwiimbu, acknowledged the urgency of Mwamba’s medical needs but attributed delays to logistical challenges with Milpark Hospital in South Africa.
Mwamba, however, insisted that security concerns—particularly South African medical facilities resisting armed security personnel accompanying him—have further complicated the process.
Doctors at Maina Soko Military Hospital have warned that his prostate cancer is advancing, leaving him with no alternative but to seek bail.
His legal team has also applied to introduce new evidence, arguing that his health has significantly worsened due to inadequate medical care.
Read More: Ex-Defence minister, Mwamba, seeks to present new evidence in corruption case trial
Additionally, Mwamba highlighted that the five-month timeframe for hearing his appeal has already lapsed, contradicting the state’s earlier argument that the case would be expedited. He also noted that the state did not oppose his medical evacuation, as per the consent judgment.
Having previously traveled abroad for treatment while on bail without violating conditions, Mwamba maintains that he poses no flight risk.
He has expressed willingness to comply with any conditions set by the court, urging the judiciary to prioritize his health and grant him bail pending appeal.
Currently admitted at Maina Soko Military Hospital, he reports experiencing persistent low blood pressure and warns that continued delays in treatment could have life-threatening consequences.
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