Judgement reserved in M’membe’s contempt case

THE Lusaka High Court has reserved judgement in a matter in which five ex-employees of the Post Newspapers (in liquidation) asked the court to cite their former boss, Fred M’membe for contempt.

High Court Judge Sunday Nkonde reserved judgement to a later date.

The judgement failed to take off yesterday and Judge Nkonde directed that the new dates for judgement be issued next Tuesday. The ex- employees of the Post Newspaper and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) sued the tabloid newspaper, M’membe, his lawyer Nchima Nchito and Rowena Zulu, former Finance Manager, for contempt of court after purporting to act as agents of the newspaper in court when the company had been placed under liquidation.

According to an affidavit in support of ex parte summons for leave to commence contempt proceedings for committal to prison, sworn by the provisional liquidator Lewis Mosho, M’membe and others are alleged to have failed to comply with the order of the court which placed the company under liquidation.

M’membe and the two others are alleged to have continued being in control of the business affairs of the Post Newspaper despite the company being in liquidation.

The affidavit further stated the accused’s action was intended to undermine, obstruct, ridicule and disregard the authority of the court in winding up the business affairs of the newspaper.