THE Economic and Financial Crimes Court, High Court Division, has declined to grant Stardy Mwale leave to extend the period to appeal against the forfeiture of his Simonga Farms. In November 2024, the court forfeited the farm, which houses, among other things, over 400 cattle, over 160 exotic goats, a dwelling house, a workshop, a hammer mill, farm machinery such as tractors and ploughs, and two swimming pools, to the state as they are tainted properties. Dissatisfied with the ruling, Mwale and two of his companies, Stardy Mwale Group and Business Machines, through his lawyers, on January 16, 2026, made an ex parte application for an order for leave to extend the time within which he could file the application...
