Koffi again fails to show up in court

By NATION REPORTER CONGOLESE rhumba star Antoine Christophe Agpepa Mumba aka Koffi Olomide has again failed to show up in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court in a case he has been summoned for assault.

In this case, Mumba was summoned last week for assaulting local journalist Jean Nepomuscene Ndayisenga on December 28, 2012 in Lusaka, shortly after the rhumba king’s concert at Taj Pamodzi Hotel.

Initially, Mumba was supposed to appear in court last Friday- the day he performed at Government Complex- but never showed up as the summons was reportedly not served on him.

He was scheduled to take plea yesterday before Magistrate Mwandu Sakala but when the case was called, private prosecutor Gilbert Phiri told the court that there was a new development as the accused person was not present.

Mr. Phiri said Jonas Zimba, a lawyer who appeared in court as a friend of the court, had intimated to him that he wished to address the court.

Mr. Zimba then informed Magistrate Sakala that he acts for Mumba’s promoters in Zambia and that after last Friday’s court sitting, he was unable to reach them until yesterday.

“Be as it may, they have advised that the accused person is en-route to Harare where he is scheduled to have a show. They have further advised that they are ready to get the summons and proceed to Kinshasa to serve the same on him on or about 19th August 2018,” Mr. Zimba said.

After being called, Mumba’s promoter Mark Mubalama, 41, of house number 197, Kalundu, Lusaka, said he would pick up the summons and avail Mumba before court in September this year.

Mr. Mubalama said it would be difficult for Mumba to appear before court on an earlier date than September because he has scheduled shows in Lubumbashi and Angola from August 21 to 24, 2018.

Later, Mr. Phiri acceded to Mr. Mubalama’s intimation and applied for an adjournment to August 23, 2018 for plea.

He added that on Saturday July 28, 2018, the prosecution had attempted to serve the summons on Mumba but he refused to accept the document.

“Nevertheless, it was left with him…in the interest of progress and without much fanfare, we accede to Mr. Mubalama to avail the accused person,” Mr. Phiri said.

The case has since been adjourned to August 23, 2018 when Mumba will be expected to take plea. Earlier, renowned Lusakabased rhumba artiste and promoter Suke Chile threatened to break a camera for one of the journalists that were filming his arrival at court.

Chile asked the journalists as to why they were filming him and accused them of being at court to spoil “things.”

However, after the case was adjourned, Chile said he respects and appreciates the importance of journalists and democracy for the the years that he has been in Zambia.