To recover a debt through the courts in Zambia, you must first obtain a judgment or court order against the debtor. The law provides practical enforcement mechanisms once you have secured this judgment.
After obtaining a judgment for payment of money, you can enforce it through garnishment proceedings [Subordinate Courts Act, S.38]. You may apply to the court clerk by filing an affidavit in the prescribed form to obtain a summons against a third party (called a garnishee) who owes money to your debtor. This allows the court to order that person to pay the debt directly to you, up to the amount owed [Subordinate Courts Act, S.38(1)].
If your debtor becomes insolvent or bankrupt, the court may appoint a trustee to manage their assets and distribute proceeds to creditors according to legal priority. You can prove your debt as a creditor in these proceedings. Additionally, if a debtor was wrongly declared bankrupt or their debts are paid in full, the court can annul the bankruptcy order [Bankruptcy Act, S.31].
For money-lending debts specifically, if the borrower defaults, the court has power to determine the loan contract and order payment of outstanding principal plus any interest the court considers fair up to the payment date [Money-Lenders Act, S.18(2)]. In all cases, consult a legal practitioner to ensure you follow the correct procedures and meet filing deadlines for your jurisdiction.