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REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
THE MONEY-LENDERS ACT
CHAPTER 398 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA
CHAPTER 398 THE MONEY-LENDERS ACT
THE MONEY-LENDERS ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
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Section
1. Short title
2. Interpretation
2A. Exemption
3. Licences to be taken out by money-lenders
4. Certificate required for grant of money-lender's licence
5. Suspension and forfeiture of money-lender's certificates
6. Names to be stated on documents issued by money-lenders
7. Restrictions on money-lending advertisements
8. Penalties for false statements and representations
9. Form of money-lender's contracts
10. Prohibition of compound interest and provision as to defaults
11. Obligation of money-lender to supply information as to state of loan and copies
of documents relating thereto
12. Provisions as to bankruptcy proceedings for money-lender's loans
13. Appropriation of principal and interest
14. Reopening of transactions of money-lenders
15. Interest at a rate exceeding 48 per centum to be deemed harsh and
unconscionable
16. Courts to which proceedings on money-lending transactions are to be taken
17. Prohibition of charge for expenses on loans by money-lenders
18. Limitation of time for proceedings in respect of money lent by money-lenders
19. Special provisions as to pawnbrokers' loans
20. Notice and information to be given on assignment of money-lenders' debts
21. Application of Act as respects assignees
SCHEDULE-Calculation of interest where the interest charged on a loan is not
expressed in terms of a rate
CHAPTER 398
MONEY-LENDERS
11 of 1938
15 of 1952
36 of 1970
13 of 1994
Government Notices
279 of 1964
497 of 1964
Statutory Instrument
5 of 1965
An Act to make provision with respect to persons carrying on business as
money-lenders; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
[26th August, 1938]
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1. This Act may be cited as the Money-lenders Act. Short title
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- Interpretation
"authorised name" and "authorised address" mean respectively the name under
which and the address at which a money-lender is authorised by a
certificate granted under this Act to carry on business as a money-lender;
"business name" means the name or style under which any business is carried on,
whether in partnership or otherwise;
"company" means any body corporate being a money-lender;
"firm" means an unincorporate body of two or more individuals, or one or more
individuals and one or more corporations, or two or more corporations, who
have entered into partnership with one another with a view to carrying on
business for profit;
"interest" does not include any sum lawfully charged in accordance with the
provisions of this Act by a money-lender for or on account of costs, charges
or expenses, but, save as aforesaid, includes any amount, by whatsoever
name called, in excess of the principal, paid or payable to a money-lender
in consideration of or otherwise in respect of a loan;
"money-lender" includes every person whose business is that of money-lending or
who advertises or announces himself or holds himself out in any way as
carrying on that business, but shall not include-
(a) any pawnbroker in respect of business carried on by him in
accordance with the provisions of any law for the time being in force
in relation to pawnbrokers; or
(b) any body corporate in so far as it is empowered to lend money by
any Act or by any British Act; or
(c) any person bona fide carrying on the business of banking or
insurance or bona fide carrying on any business not having for its
primary object the lending of money, in the course of which and for
the purposes whereof he lends money; or
(d) any building society registered under the Building Societies Act; or Cap. 412
(e) any body corporate for the time being exempted under section two
A;
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"Permanent Secretary" means the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance;
"principal" means in relation to a loan, the amount actually lent to the borrower.
(As amended by No. 15 of 1952, G.N. No. 279 of 1964,
S.I. No. 5 of 1965 and No. 36 of 1970)
2A. (1) The Minister may, by statutory order, exempt any body corporate from the
provisions of this Act, and such exemption may be granted subject to such terms and
conditions and in respect of such period as the Minister may specify in the order.
Exemption
(2) An order under this section may be revoked at any time.
(No. 36 of 1970)
3. (1) Except as hereinafter provided, every money-lender, whether carrying on
business alone or as a partner of a firm, shall take out annually in respect of every
address at which he carries on his business as such, a licence (in this Act referred to as "a
money-lender's licence") which shall expire on the 31st December in every year, and there
shall be charged on every money-lender's licence a fee of four hundred and fifty fee units
or, if the licence be taken out not more than six months before the expiration thereof, three
hundred fee units:
Licences to be taken
out by money-lenders
Provided that in respect of any address for which one partner in a firm of
money-lenders has duly taken out a money-lender's licence, every other partner in such
firm shall, subject to the provisions of section four, be issued with a money-lender's
licence free of charge for such address.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, money-lenders' licences shall be in such
form as the Minister may direct, and shall be issued by the Permanent Secretary on
payment of the licence fee, and regulations made by the Minister, by statutory instrument,
may make provision as to the procedure to be followed in making application for
money-lenders' licences:
Provided that a money-lender's licence shall be taken out by a money-lender in his
true name, and shall be void if it be taken out in any other name, but every money-lender's
licence shall also show the money-lender's authorised name and authorised address.
(3) If any person-
(a) takes out a money-lender's licence in any name other than his true name;
or
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(b) carries on business as a money-lender without having in force a proper
money-lender's licence authorising him so to do, or, being licensed as a
money-lender, carries on business as such in any name other than his
authorised name, or at any other place than his authorised address or
addresses; or
(c) enters into any agreement in the course of his business as a money-lender
with respect to the advance or repayment of money, or takes any security
for money, in the course of his business as a money-lender, otherwise than
in his authorised name;
he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction by a subordinate court of
the first or second class, to a fine not exceeding three thousand penalty units in respect of
each offence:
Provided that on a second or subsequent conviction of any person (other than a
company) for an offence under this subsection, the court may, in lieu of or in addition to
ordering the offender to pay the fine aforesaid, order him to be imprisoned for a term not
exceeding three months, and an offender being a company shall, on a second or
subsequent conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand penalty units.
(As amended by G.N. No. 279 of 1964 and Act No. 13 of 1994)
4. (1) A money-lender's licence shall be granted except to a person who holds a
certificate granted in accordance with the provisions of this section authorising the grant of
the licence to that person, and a separate certificate shall be required in respect of every
separate licence. Any money-lender's licence granted in contravention of this section shall
be void.
Certificate required for
grant of
money-lender's licence
(2) Certificates under this section (in this Act referred to as "certificates") shall be
granted by the subordinate court of the first or second class having jurisdiction in the
district in which the money-lender's business is to be carried on.
(3) Every certificate granted to a money-lender shall show his true name and the
name under which, and the address at which, he is authorised by the certificate to carry
on business as such, and a certificate shall not authorise a money-lender to carry on
business at more than one address, or under more than one name, or under any name
which includes the word "bank", or otherwise implies that he carries on banking business,
and no certificate shall authorise a money-lender to carry on business under any name
except-
(a) his true name; or
(b) the name of a firm in which he is a partner, not being a firm required by the
Registration of Business Names Act to be registered; or
Cap. 389
(c) a business name, whether of an individual or of a firm in which he is a
partner, under which he or the firm has, at the commencement of this Act,
been registered for not less than three years under the Registration of
Business Names Act.
Cap. 389
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(4) A certificate shall come into force on the date specified therein, and shall expire
on the next following 31st December.
(5) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make regulations with respect to the
procedure to be followed in making applications for certificates (including the notices to be
given of intention to make such an application), and be given of intention to make such an
application), and certificates shall be in such form as may be prescribed by regulations so
made.
(6) A certificate shall not be refused except on some one or more of the following
grounds:
(a) that satisfactory evidence has not been produced of the good character of
the applicant, and, in the case of a company, of the persons responsible for
the management thereof;
(b) that satisfactory evidence has been produced that the applicant, or any
person responsible or proposed to be responsible for the management of
his business as a money-lender, is not a fit and proper person to hold a
certificate;
(c) that the applicant, or any person responsible or proposed to be responsible
for the management of his business as a money-lender, is by order of a
court disqualified for holding a certificate;
(d) that the applicant has not complied with the provisions of any regulations
made under this section with respect to applications for certificates.
(7) Any person aggrieved by the refusal of a subordinate court to grant a certificate
may appeal to the High Court.
(As amended by G.N. No. 279 of 1964)
5. (1) Where any person, being the holder of a certificate, is convicted of any
offence under this Act, or under section 2 or 4 of the Betting and Loans (Infants) Act,
1892, of the United Kingdom, the court-
Suspension and
forfeiture of
money-lenders'
certificates
(a) may order that any certificate held by that person, and in the case of a
partner in a firm by any other partner in the firm, shall either be suspended
for such time as the court thinks fit, or shall be forfeited, and may also, if the
court thinks fit, declare any such person, or any person responsible for the
management of the money-lending business carried on by the person
convicted, to be disqualified for obtaining a certificate for life or for such less
time as the court thinks fit; and
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(b) shall cause particulars of the conviction and of any order made by the court
under this subsection to be endorsed on every certificate held by the
person convicted or by any other person affected by the order, and shall
cause copies of those particulars to be sent to the court by whom any
certificate so endorsed was granted and to the Permanent Secretary:
Provided that-
(i) where, by order of a court, the person convicted is disqualified for
obtaining a certificate or his certificate is suspended or forfeited, he
shall have the same right of appeal against the order as against his
conviction or sentence, and the court making the order, may, if it
thinks fit, pending the appeal, defer the operation of the order;
(ii) where, by order of a court, some person other than the person
convicted is disqualified for obtaining a certificate or his certificate is
suspended or forfeited, he shall be served by the court with notice of
such order and if he gives notice of appeal within fourteen days of
such service, shall have the same right of appeal against such order
as though he were the person convicted, and the court shall,
pending the service of the notice, defer the operation of the order
and may, if it thinks fit, pending the appeal, further defer the
operation of the order. Every notice under this proviso shall be
signed by the Judge or magistrate making the order and shall be
served in the manner provided for the service of a summons by the
Criminal Procedure Code.
Cap. 88
(2) Any certificate required by a court for endorsement in accordance with
subsection (1) shall be produced, in such manner and within such time as may be directed
by the court, by the person by whom it is held, and any person who, without reasonable
causes, makes default in producing any certificate so required shall, in respect of each
offence, be liable, on conviction by a subordinate court of the first or second class, to a
fine not exceeding one hundred and fifty penalty units for each day during which the
default continues.
(3) Where a certificate held by any person is ordered to be suspended or to be
forfeited under subsection (1), any money-lender's licences granted to that person,
whether in pursuance of that or any other certificate, shall be suspended durining the
period for which the certificate is ordered to be suspended or become void, as the case
may be.
(As amended by G.N. No. 279 of 1964
and Act No. 13 of 1994)
6. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of the last foregoing section and to the
provisions of section eighty-five of the Companies Act and to the provisions of section
nineteen of the Registration of Business Names Act, a money-lender shall not, for the
purposes of his business as such, issue or publish, or cause to be issued or published,
any advertisement, circular, business letter or other similar document which does not
show in such manner as to be not less conspicuous than any other name, the authorised
name of the money-lender, and any money-lender who acts in contravention of this
subsection shall be liable, on conviction by a subordinate court of the first or second class,
to a fine not exceeding six hundred penalty units in respect of each offence.
Names to be stated on
documents issued by
money-lenders.
Cap. 388
Cap. 389
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(2) If a money-lender, for the purposes of his business as such, issues or publishes,
or causes to be issued or published, any advertisement, circular or document of any kind
whatsoever containing expressions which might reasonably be held to imply that he
carries on banking business, he shall, on conviction by a subordinate court of the first or
second class, be liable to a fine not exceeding three thousand penalty units
Provided that on a second or subsequent conviction of any person (other than a
company) for an offence under this subsection, the court may, in lieu of or in addition to
ordering the offender to pay the fine aforesaid, order him to be imprisoned for a term not
exceeding three months, and an offender being a company shall on a second or
subsequent conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand penalty units:
(As amended by Act No. 13 of 1994)
7. (1) No person shall knowingly send or deliver or cause to be sent or delivered to
any person, except in response to his written request, any circular or other document
advertising the name, address or telephone number of a money-lender, or containing an
invitation-
Restrictions on
money-lending
advertisements
(a) to borrow money from a money-lender;
(b) to enter into any transaction involving the borrowing of money from a
money-lender;
(c) to apply to any place with a view to obtaining information or advice as to
borrowing any money from a money-lender.
(2) Subject as hereinafter provided, no person shall publish or cause to be
published in any newspaper or other printed paper issued periodically for public
circulation, or by means of any poster or placard, an advertisement advertising any such
particulars, or containing any such invitation, as aforesaid:
Provided that an advertisement in conformity with the requirements of this Act
relating to the use of names on money-lenders' documents may be published by or on
behalf of a money-lender in any newspaper or in any such paper as aforesaid or by means
of a poster or placard exhibited at any authorised address of the money-lender, if it
contains no addition to the particulars necessary to comply with the said requirements,
except any of the following particulars, that is to say, any authorised address at which he
carries on business as a money-lender and the telegraphic address and telephone
number thereof, any address at which he formerly carried on business, a statement that
he lends money with or without security, and of the highest and lowest sums that he is
prepared to lend, and a statement of the date on which the business carried on by him
was first established.
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(3) No money-lender or any person on his behalf shall employ any agent or
canvasser for the purpose of inviting any person to borrow money or to enter into any
transaction involving the borrowing of money from a money-lender, or demand or receive,
directly or indirectly, any sum or other valuable consideration by way of commission or
otherwise for introducing or undertaking to introduce to a money-lender any person
desiring to borrow money.
(4) Where any document issued or published by or on behalf of a money-lender
purports to indicate the terms of interest upon which he is willing to make loans or any
particular loan, the document shall either express the interest proposed to be charged in
terms of a rate per centum per annum or show the rate per centum per annum
represented by the interest proposed to be charged as calculated in accordance with the
provisions of the Schedule.
(5) Any person acting in contravention of any of the provisions of this section shall
be guilty of an offence and shall, in respect of each offence, be liable, on conviction by a
subordinate court of the first or second class, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
three months or to a fine not exceeding three thousand penalty units or to both.
(6) Where it is shown that a money-lending transaction was brought about by a
contravention of any of the provisions of this section, the transaction shall, notwithstanding
that the money-lender was duly licensed under this Act, be illegal, unless the
money-lender proves that the contravention occurred without his consent or connivance.
(As amended by Act No. 13 of 1994)
8. If any money-lender, or any manager, agent or clerk of a money-lender, or if any
person being a director, manager, or other officer of any corporation carrying on the
business of a money-lender, by any false, misleading, or deceptive statement,
representation, or promise, or by any dishonest concealment of material facts, fraudulently
induces or attempts to induce any person to borrow money or to agree to the terms on
which money is or is to be borrowed, he shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable,
on conviction by a subordinate court of the first or second class, to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand penalty units, or
to both.
(As amended by Act No. 13 of 1994)
Penalties for false
statements and
representations
9. (1) No contract for the repayment by a borrower of money lent to him or to any
agent on his behalf by a money-lender after the commencement of this Act, or for the
payment by him of interest on money so lent, and no security given by the borrower or by
any such agent as aforesaid in respect of any such contract, shall be enforceable, unless
a note or memorandum in writing of the contract be made and signed personally by the
borrower, and unless a copy thereof be delivered or sent to the borrower within seven
days of the making of the contract; and no such contract or security shall be enforceable if
it is proved that the note or memorandum aforesaid was not signed by the borrower before
the money was lent or before the security was given, as the case may be.
Form of
money-lenders'
contracts
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(2) The note or memorandum aforesaid shall contain all the terms of the contract,
and in particular shall show the date on which the loan is made, the amount of the
principal of the loan, and either the interest charged on the loan expressed in terms of a
rate per centum per annum, or the rate per centum per annum represented by the interest
charged as calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Schedule.
10. Subject as hereinafter provided, any contract made after the commencement
of this Act for the loan of money by a money-lender shall be illegal in so far as it provides
directly or indirectly for the payment of compound interest or for the rate or amount of
interest being increased by reason of any default in the payment of sums due under the
contract:
Prohibition of
compound interest and
provision as to
defaults
Provided that provision may be made in writing by any such contract that, if default is
made in the payment upon the due date of any sum payable to the money-lender under
the contract, whether in respect of principal or interest, the money-lender shall be entitled
to charge simple interest on that sum from the date of the default until the sum is paid, at
a rate not exceeding the rate payable in respect of the principal apart from any default,
and any interest so charged shall not be reckoned for the purposes of this Act as part of
the interest charged in respect of the loan.
11. (1) In respect of every contract for the repayment of money lent by a
money-lender, whether made before or after the commencement of this Act, the
money-lender shall, on any reasonable demand in writing being made by the borrower at
any time during the continuance of the contract and on tender by the borrower of the sum
of ten ngwee for expenses, supply to the borrower or, if the borrower so requires, to any
person specified in that behalf in the demand, a statement signed by the money-lender or
his agent showing-
Obligation of
money-lender to
supply information as
to state of loan and
copies of documents
relating thereto
(a) the date on which the loan was made, the amount of the principal of the
loan and the rate per centum per annum of interest charged; and
(b) the amount of any payment already received by the money-lender in
respect of the loan and the date on which it was made; and
(c) the amount of every sum due to the money-lender, but unpaid, and the date
upon which it became due, and the amount of interest accrued due and
unpaid in respect of every such sum; and
(d) the amount of every sum not yet due which remains outstanding, and the
date upon which it will become due.
(2) A money-lender shall, on any reasonable demand in writing by the borrower, and
on tender of a reasonable sum for expenses, supply a copy of any document relating to a
loan made by him or any security therefor, to the borrower, or, if the borrower so requires,
to any person specified in that behalf in the demand.
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(3) If a money-lender to whom a demand has been made under this section fails,
without reasonable excuse, to comply therewith within one month after the demand has
been made, he shall not, so long as the default continues, be entitled to sue for or recover
any sum due under the contract on account either of principal or interest, and interest
shall not be chargeable in respect of the period of the default, and if such default is made
or continued after proceedings have ceased to lie in respect of the loan, the money-lender
shall be liable, on conviction by a subordinate court of the first or second class, to a fine
not exceeding one hundred and fifty penalty units for every day on which the default
continues.
(As amended by Act No. 13 of 1994)
12. (1) Where a debt due to a money-lender in respect of a loan made by him after
the commencement of this Act includes interest, that interest shall, for the purposes of the
provisions of the Bankruptcy Act relating to the presentation of a bankruptcy petition,
voting at meetings, compositions and schemes of arrangement, and dividend, be
calculated at a rate not exceeding five per centum per annum, but nothing in the foregoing
provision shall prejudice the right of the creditor to receive out of the estate, after all the
debts proved in the estate have been paid in full, any higher rate of interest to which he
may be entitled. The provisions of this subsection shall, in relation to such a debt as
aforesaid, have effect in substitution for the provisions of subsection (1) of section
sixty-eight of the Bankruptcy Act.
Provisions as to
bankruptcy
proceedings for
money-lenders' loans.
Cap. 82
(2) No proof of a debt due to a money-lender in respect of a loan made by him shall
be admitted for any of the purposes of the Bankruptcy Act, unless the affidavit verifying
the debt is accompanied by a statement showing in detail-
Cap. 82
(a) the amount of the sums actually lent to the debtor and the dates on which
they were lent, and the amount of every payment already received by the
money-lender in respect of the loan and the date on which every such
payment was made; and
(b) the amount of the balance which remains unpaid, distinguishing the amount
of the principal from the amount of interest included therein, the
appropriation between principal and interest being made in accordance with
the provisions of this Act where the interest is not expressed by the contract
for the loan in terms of a rate; and
(c) where the amount of interest included in the unpaid balance represents a
rate per centum per annum exceeding five per centum, the amount of
interest which would be so included if it were calculated at the rate of five
per centum per annum.
(3) The Chief Justice may, with the concurrence of the Minister, by statutory
instrument, make general regulations for carrying into effect the objects of this section.
(As amended by G.N. No. 279 of 1964)
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13. Where, by a contract for the loan of money by a money-lender, the interest
charged on the loan is not expressed in terms of a rate, any amount paid or payable to the
money-lender under the contract (other than simple interest charged in accordance with
the proviso to section ten) shall be appropriated to principal and interest in the proportion
that the principal bears to the total amount of the interest, and the rate per centum per
annum represented by the interest charged as calculated in accordance with the
provisions of the Schedule shall be deemed to be the rate of interest charged on the loan.
Appropriation of
principal and interest
14. (1) Where proceedings are taken in any court by a money-lender for the
recovery of any money lent after the commencement of this Act, or the enforcement of
any agreement or security made or taken after the commencement of this Act, in respect
of money lent either before or after the commencement of this Act, and there is evidence
which satisfies the court that the interest charged in respect of the sum actually lent is
excessive, or that the amounts charged for expenses, inquiries, fines, bonus, premium,
renewals, or any other charges, are excessive, and that, in either case, the transaction is
harsh and unconscionable, or is otherwise such that a court of equity would give relief, the
court may reopen the transaction, and take an account between the money-lender and the
person sued, and may, notwithstanding any statement or settlement of account or any
agreement purporting to close previous dealings and create a new obligation, reopen any
account already taken between them, and relieve the person sued from payment of any
sum in excess of the sum adjudged by the court to be fairly due in respect of such
principal, interest and charges, as the court, having regard to the risk and all the
circumstances, may adjudge to be reasonable; and if any such excess has been paid, or
allowed in account, by the debtor, may order the creditor to repay it; and may set aside,
either wholly or in part, or revise, or alter, any security given or agreement made in
respect of money lent by the money-lender, and if the money-lender has parted with the
security may order him to indemnify the borrower or other person sued.
Reopening of
transactions of money
lenders
(2) Any court in which proceedings might be taken for the recovery of money lent by
a money-lender shall have and may, at the instance of the borrower or surety or other
person liable, exercise the like powers as may be exercised under this section, where
proceedings are taken for the recovery of money lent, and the court shall have power,
notwithstanding any provision or agreement to the contrary, to entertain any application
under this Act by the borrower or surety, or other person liable, notwithstanding that the
time for repayment of the loan, or any instalment thereof, may not have arrived.
(3) On any application relating to the admission or amount of a proof by a
money-lender in any bankruptcy proceedings, the court may exercise the like powers as
may be exercised under this section when proceedings are taken for the recovery of
money.
(4) The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to any transaction which,
whatever its form may be, is substantially one of money-lending by a money-lender.
(5) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall affect the rights of any
bona fide assignee or holder for value without notice.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as derogating from the existing powers
or jurisdiction of any court.
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15. (1) Where, in any proceedings in respect of any money lent by a money-lender
after the commencement of this Act or in respect of any agreement or security made or
taken after the commencement of this Act in respect of money lent either before or after
the commencement of this Act, it is found that the interest charged exceeds the rate of
forty-eight per centum per annum, or the corresponding rate in respect of any other
period, the court shall, unless the contrary is proved, presume for the purposes of section
fourteen, that the interest charged is excessive and that the transaction is harsh and
unconscionable, but this provision shall be without prejudice to the powers of the court
under that section where the court is satisfied that the interest charged, although not
exceeding forty-eight per centum per annum, is excessive.
Interest at a rate
exceeding 48 per
centum to be deemed
harsh and
unconscionable
(2) Where a court reopens a transaction of a money-lender under section fourteen,
the court may require the money-lender to produce any certificate granted to him in
accordance with the provisins of this Act, and may cause such particulars as the court
thinks desirable to be endorsed on any such certificate, and a copy of the particulars to be
sent to the court by whom the certificate was granted.
(3) The powers of a court under section fourteen with respect to the reopening of
the transactions of money-lenders shall extend to any transaction effected under a special
contract made in accordance with the provisions of section 24 of the Pawnbrokers Act,
1872, of the United Kingdom, and accordingly, for the purposes of section fourteen, the
provisions of paragraph (a) of the definition of the term "money-lender" in section two shall
not apply with respect to any such transaction.
(4) The powers of a court under subsection (2) of section fourteen may, in the event
of the bankruptey of the borrower, be exercised at the instance of the trustee in
bankruptcy, notwithstanding that he may not be a person liable in respect of the
transaction.
(5) The powers of a court under subsection (2) of section fourteen may be exercised
notwithstanding that the money-lender's right of action for the recovery of the money lent
is barred.
16. Subject as hereinafter provided, no action by a money-lender for the recovery
of money lent by him or for enforcing any agreement or security relating to any such
money shall be brought in any subordinate court other than a subordinate court of the first
class:
Courts to which
proceedings on
money-lending
transactions are to be
taken
Provided that the Minister may, with the concurrence of the Chief Justice, by order
direct that any subordinate court specified in the order shall have the same jurisdiction as
respects such actions as aforesaid as it would have had but for the provisions of this
section, and any such order may contain provisions with respect to the making of rules for
regulating the procedure to be followed in the case of any such action.
(As amended by G.N. No. 279 of 1964)
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17. Any agreement between a money-lender and a borrower or intending borrower
for the payment by the borrower or intending borrower to the money-lender of any sum on
account of costs, charges or expenses incidental to or relating to the negotiations for or
granting of the loan or proposed loan shall be illegal, and if any sum is paid to a
money-lender by a borrower or intending borrower as for or on account of any such costs,
charges or expenses, that sum shall be recoverable as a debt due to the borrower or
intending borrower, or, in the event of the loan being completed, shall, if not so recovered,
be set off against the amount actually lent and that amount shall be deemed to be
reduced accordingly.
Prohibition of charge
for expenses on loans
by money-lenders
18. (1) No proceedings shall lie for the recovery by a money-lender of any money
lent by him after the commencement of this Act or of any interest in respect thereof, or for
the enforcement of any agreement made or security taken after the commencement of
this Act in respect of any loan made by him, unless the proceedings are commenced
before the expiration of twelve months from the date on which the cause of action
accrued:
Limitation of time for
proceedings in respect
of money lent by
money-lenders
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Provided that-
(i) if during the period of twelve months aforesaid or at any time within
any subsequent period during which proceedings may by virtue of
this proviso be brought, the debtor acknowledges in writing the
amount due and gives a written undertaking to the money-lender to
pay that amount, proceedings for the recovery of the amount due
may be brought at any time within a period of twelve months from
the date of the acknowledgment and undertaking;
(ii) the time limited by the foregoing provisions of this section for the
commencement of proceedings shall not begin to run in respect of
any payments from time to time becoming due to a money-lender
under a contract for the loan of money until a cause of action
accrues in respect of the last payment becoming due under the
contract;
(iii) if at the date on which the cause of action accrues or on which any
such acknowledgment and undertaking as as aforesaid is given by
the debtor, the person entitled to take the proceedings is non
compos mentis, the time limited by the foregoing provisions of this
section for the commencement of proceedings shall not begin to run
until that person ceases to be non compos mentis or dies, whichever
first occurs; and
(iv) if at the date on which the cause of action accrues or on which any
such acknowledgment and undertaking as aforesaid is given by the
debtor, the debtor is not within the Republic, the time limited by the
foregoing provisions of this section for the commencement of
proceedings shall not begin to run until he returns within the
Republic:
Provided that where the cause of action has accrued against two or
more joint debtors, the time limited by the foregoing provisions of
this section for the commencement of proceedings shall commence
to run from the date on which the cause of action accrued in the
case of any one or more of such joint debtors who is or are within
the Republic on such date, notwithstanding that some other one or
more of such joint debtors is or are without the Republic on such
date, but the person entitled to take the proceedings shall not be
barred from commencing such proceedings against any joint debtor
or joint debtors, who was or were without the Republic on the date
on which the cause of action accrued, after his or their return within
the Republic, by reason only that judgment has already been
recovered against any one or more of such joint debtors who was or
were within the Republic at the date aforesaid.
(2) Without prejudice to the powers of a court under section fourteen, if at the time
when proceedings are taken by a money-lender in respect of a default in the payment of
any sum due to him under a contract for the loan of money, any further amount is
outstanding under the contract but not yet due, the court may determine the contract and
order the principal outstanding to be paid to the money-lender with such interest thereon,
if any, as the court may allow up to the date of payment.
19. (1) The provisions of sections nine, seventeen and eighteen shall not apply in
relation to any loan by a pawnbroker on a pledge, or in relation to any debt in respect of
such a loan, or any interest thereon, notwithstanding that the loan is not made in the
course of the business carried on by the pawnbroker in accordance with any law for the
time being in force in relation to pawnbrokers, so long as the following conditions are
complied with in respect of the loan:
Special provisions as
to pawnbrokers' loans
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(a) the pawnbroker shall deliver or send to the pawner within seven days a
note or memorandum containing all the terms of the contract, and in
particular showing the date on which the loan is made, the amount of the
principal of the loan, the interest charged on the loan expressed in terms of
a rate per centum per annum, and any other charges payable by the
pawner under the contract, and the rate of interest charged shall not
exceed the rate of twenty per centum per annum;
(b) subject as hereinafter provided, the pawner shall not be charged any sum
on account of costs, charges, or expenses incidental to or relating to the
negotiations for or the granting of the loan or proposed loan, except a
charge for the preparation of documents relating to the loan not exceeding
the sum of ten ngwee, and a charge equal to the actual amount of any
stamp duty paid by the pawnbroker upon any such document:
Provided that a pawnbroker shall not be deemed to have failed to comply with the
foregoing conditions by reason of his having made in good faith and in accordance with
the terms of the contract for the loan-
(i) a reasonable charge in respect of the storage or care of any pledge
which is not physically delivered to him or which, although so
delivered, is of such weight or size that it would not under the Postal
Regulations for the time being in force be received for transmission
by parcel post; or
(ii) a charge for interest at a rate not exceeding twenty per centum per
annum upon any sum reasonably expended by the pawnbroker in
respect of the storage or care of the pledge; or
(iii) a charge not exceeding ten ngwee for rendering any account of the
sale of any pledge; or
(iv) a charge not exceeding ten ngwee in respect of any inspection of
the pawnbroker's books.
(2) Any charge authorised by this section for the preparation of documents relating
to a loan, or in respect of stamp duty upon any such document, may be deducted by the
pawnbroker from the amount of the loan, and, if so deducted, shall be deemed for the
purposes of this Act to be included in the principal.
20. (1) Where any debt in respect of money lent by a money-lender whether before
or after the commencement of this Act or in respect of interest on any such debt or the
benefit of any agreement made or security taken in respect of any such debt or interest is
assigned to any assignee, the assignor (whether he is the money-lender by whom the
money was lent or any person to whom the debt has been previously assigned) shall,
before the assignment is made-
Notice and information
to be given on
assignment of
money-lender' debts
(a) give to the assignee notice in writing that the debt, agreement or security is
affected by the operation of this Act; and
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(b) supply to the assignee all information necessary to enable him to comply
with the provisions of this Act relating to the obligation to supply information
as to the state of loans and copies of documents relating thereto;
and any person acting in contravention of any of the provisions of this section shall be
liable to indemnify any other person who is prejudiced by the contravention, and shall also
be guilty of an offence, and shall in respect of each offence be liable, on conviction by a
subordinate court of the first or second class, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
two years or to a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand penalty units, or to both.
(2) In this section, "assigned" means assigned by any assignment inter vivos other
than an assignment by operation of law, and "assignor" and "assignee" have
corresponding meanings.
(As amended by Act No. 13 of 1994)
21. (1) Subject as hereinafter provided, the provisions of this Act shall continue to
apply as respects any debt to a money-lender in respect of money lent by him after the
commencement of this Act or in respect of interest on money so lent or of the benefit of
any agreement made or security taken in respect of any such debt or interest,
notwithstanding that the debt or the benefit of the agreement or security may have been
assigned to any assignee, and, except where the context otherwise requires, references in
this Act to a money-lender shall accordingly be construed as including any such assignee
as aforesaid:
Application of Act as
respects assignees
Provided that, notwithstanding anything in this Act-
(i) any agreement with, or security taken by, a money-lender in respect
of money lent by him after the commencement of this Act, shall be
valid in favour of any bona fide assignee or holder for value without
notice of any defect due to the operation of this Act, and of any
person deriving title under him; and
(ii) any payment or transfer of money or property made bona fide by
any person, whether acting in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, on
the faith of the validity of any such agreement or security, without
notice of any such defect shall, in favour of that person, be as valid
as it would have been if the agreement or security had been valid;
and
(iii) the provisions of this Act limiting the time for proceedings in respect
of money lent shall not apply to any proceedings in respect of any
such agreement or security commenced by a bona fide assignee or
holder for value without notice that the agreement or security was
affected by the operation of this Act, or by any person deriving title
under him;
but in every such case the money-lender shall be liable to indemnify the borrower or any
other person who is prejudiced by virtue of this section, and nothing in this proviso shall
render valid an agreement or security in favour of, or apply to proceedings commenced
by, an assignee or holder for value who is himself a money-lender.
(2) Nothing in this section shall render valid for any purpose any agreement,
security, or other transaction which would, apart from the provisions of this Act, have been
void or unenforceable.
The Laws of Zambia
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SCHEDULE
(Sections 7, 9 and 13)
CALCULATION OF INTEREST WHERE THE INTEREST CHARGED ON A LOAN
IS NOT EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF A RATE
1. The amount of principal outstanding at any time shall be taken to be the balance remaining after deducting from
the principal the total of the portions of any payments appropriated to principal in accordance with the provisions of this
Act.
2. The several amounts taken to be outstanding by way of principal during the several periods ending on the dates
on which payments are made shall be multiplied in each case by the number of calendar months during which those
amounts are taken to be respectively outstanding, and there shall be ascertained the aggregate amount of the sum so
produced.
3. The total amount of the interest shall be divided by one-twelfth part of the aggregate amount mentioned in
paragraph 2, and the quotient, multiplied by one hundred, shall be taken to be the rate of interest per centum per annum.
4. If, having regard to the intervals between successive payments, it is desired so to do, the calculation of interest
may be made by reference to weeks instead of months, and in such a case the foregoing paragraphs shall have effect as
though in paragraph 2 the word "weeks" were substituted for the words "calendar months", and in paragraph 3 the words
"one-fifty-second" were substituted for the words "one-twelfth".
5. Where any interval between successive payments is not a number of complete weeks or complete months, the
foregoing paragraphs shall have effect as though one day were one-seventh part of a week or one-thirtieth part of a month,
as the case may be.
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SUBSIDIDARY LEGISLATION
MONEY-LENDERS
SECTION 3-THE MONEY-LENDERS (APPLICATION FOR LICENCE) REGULATIONS
Regulations by the Minister
Government Notices
76 of 1938
279 of 1964
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Money-lenders (Application for Licence)
Regulations.
Title
2. An applicant for a money-lender's licence shall send to the Permanent Secretary
by registered post the certificate authorising the grant to him of a licence or, if he so
desires, he may attend personally at the office of the Permanent Secretary and produce
the said certificate. On payment of the prescribed fee and if satisfied that the certificate is
in order, the Permanent Secretary shall issue licence to the applicant. Such licence shall
be in the form set out in the Schedule.
(As amended by No. 279 of 1964)
Method of application
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SCHEDULE
(Regulation 2)
THE MONEY-LENDERS ACT
THE MONEY-LENDERS (APPLICATION FOR LICENCE) REGULATIONS
LICENCE
(Section 3)
Fee Paid ....................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................ is hereby licensed to carry on
business as a money-lender at ..................................................................................................................................................
under the name or style of ..........................................................................................................................................................
This licence shall expire on the 31st December, 19 ................
....................................................................................................
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance
LUSAKA,
Date................................................................................
(As amended by No. 279 of 1964)
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SECTION 4-THE MONEY-LENDERS (APPLICATION FOR
CERTIFICATE) REGULATIONS
Regulations by the Minister
Government Notice
77 of 1938
Statutory Instruments
10 of 1964
5 of 1965
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Money-lenders (Application for
Certificate) Regulations.
Title
2. Any person intending to apply for a certificate under section four of the Act
(hereinafter referred to as "a certificate") shall lodge with the court having competent
jurisdiction in the district in which the applicant intends to carry on business a statement in
Form 1 in the Schedule.
Form to be lodged with
court
3. When a time has been fixed for the hearing of the application, such person-
(a) shall serve personally or by registered post, not less than two weeks before
the date fixed for the hearing of the application, a copy of the statement
referred to in regulation 2 upon the officer in charge of the police for the
district wherein the premises to which the application will relate are situate,
or if there be no such officer, upon the Inspector General of Police, and
shall at the same time inform him in writing of the date fixed for the hearing
of the application;
Steps to be taken by
applicant
(b) shall, unless the application relate merely to a renewal of a certificate,
publish, on a date not more than four weeks nor less than two weeks before
the date fixed for the hearing of the application, a notice in the Gazette and
such notice shall set forth his true name, the name in which and the
address at which he desires to be authorised to carry on business as a
money-lender, and the court and time at which the application is to be
heard;
(c) shall attend in person the court in which the statement has been lodged,
and may be called upon to answer on oath such questions as the court may
think necessary.
4. The court after hearing objections, if any, shall, if satisfied that no good grounds
exist for refusing the certificate for which application has been made, issue a certificate in
Form 2 in the Schedule.
Certificate
5. A police officer not below the rank of Sub Inspector may, acting on the general
or special instructions of the Inspector General of Police or on information received, by
appearance in person before the court in which the application is being made, oppose the
grant of a certificate.
(As amended by No. 10 of 1964
and No. 5 of 1965)
Police may oppose
application
6. Applications for certificates by two or more partners in a firm shall be made on
the same day unless the court otherwise allows.
Applications by
partners
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SCHEDULE
PRESCRIBED FORMS
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THE MONEY-LENDERS ACT
THE MONEY-LENDERS (APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE) REGULATIONS
FORM 1
(Regulation 2)
STATEMENT
1. The name of applicant. (If the applicant is a company, the name of the company should be stated here.)
2. Private address of applicant, or, in the case of a company, the registered address of the company.
3. Name under which it is desired to carry on business as a money-lender.
4. Address at which it is desired to carry on business.
The address to be entered is the address of the head office or branch in respect of which the application is
being made. A separate application to the appropriate court must be made in respect of each branch.
5. True names and addresses of partners, if any.
6. Name of person or persons (other than owners or partners) responsible or proposed to be responsible for the
management of the business. In the case of a company, the names of the directors, treasurer and secretary should be
given.
7. Date of any previous certificate under the Money-lenders Act, and name and address authorised by such
certificate.
8. If registered under the Registration of Business Names Act, date of registration and name and address under
which registered.
Cap. 38
9. Particulars of any convictions under the Money-lenders Act, of the applicant, his partner, or any person
responsible or proposed to be responsible for the management of the business.
10. Particulars of any order under section 5 of the Money-lenders Act, suspending or forfeiting any certificate of, or
disqualifying from obtaining a certificate, the applicant or his partner or any person responsible or proposed to be
responsible for the management of the business.
11. Particulars of any refusal of a certificate to the applicant, or his partner or any person responsible or proposed to
be responsible for the management of the business.
Dated..............................................................................
....................................................................................
Signature of Applicant
The ap
must b
prepare
necess
produc
certifica
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THE MONEY-LENDERS ACT
THE MONEY-LENDERS (APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE) REGULATIONS
FORM 2
(Regulation 4)
CERTIFICATE
I, ............................................................................................................................................ the undersigned, do hereby
certify that I do authorise the grant to A.B. of ............................................................................................................................
of a money-lender's licence to carry on the business of a money-lender, under the style and title of (here insert authorised
name) at (here insert authorised address). This certificate
shall come into force on the ......................................................................................day of ................................ 19 .................
and shall expire on the ............................................................................................ day of ................................ 19 .................
Dated this ...................................................................................................... day of ................................ 19 .................
(Stamp of Court)
....................................................................................
Magistrate
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SECTION 2A-THE MONEY-LENDERS (BODIES CORPORATE) (EXEMPTION) ORDER
Order by the Minister
Statutory Instrument
127 of 1973
227 of 1973
80 of 1977
1. This Order may be cited as the Money-lenders (Bodies Corporate) (Exemption)
Order.
Title
2. The bodies corporate named in the Schedule are hereby granted exemption
from the provisions of the Money-lenders Act.
Exemptions
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SCHEDULE
(Regulation 2)
1. Agricultural Finance Company.
2. Barclays Overseas Development Corporation, Limited.
3. Commonwealth Development Finance Company, Limited.
4. Industrial Finance Company.
5. Standard Chartered Merchant Bank Limited.
(As amended by S.I. No. 227 of 1973
and 80 of 1977)
