Activists’ protest case adjourned

THE case in which Laura Miti and five others are charged with disobeying lawful orders failed to take off yesterday at the Lusaka Magistrates’ court as four other accused persons were not present.

Miti appeared with Lewis Mwape for plea before magistrate Mwaka Mikalile while musician Chama Fumba, PEP president Sean Tembo, activists Bornwell Mwewa and Mwika Mwambazi were not present.

The six accused persons are being represented by defence lawyer Keith Mweemba who told the court that the other accused persons’ absence was due to the fact that they were not aware that the matter would come up on such a date.

“There has been a breakdown in communication which is why other accused persons are not present before court because they were not aware this matter was coming up on such a date,” he said.

The matter has since been adjourned to January 29, 2018 for plea as their police bonds have been extended.

The matter which was scheduled for plea did not take off in the absence of the other four accused persons.

Miti and five others were arrested on September 29 2017 after they allegedly defied police directives not to go ahead with the protests over the purchase of the fire trucks during the presentation of the national budget at the Zambia National Assembly.