LAWYERS ABANDON KAMBWILI
NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili has been deserted by his lawyers for unspecified reasons, the magistrates court heard yesterday.
This is in a matter Kambwili, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader, has been charged with defamation of the President for claiming that Lusaka business executive Valden Findlay was allegedly using the Presidential jet to courier drugs.
When the matter came up yesterday for continued cross examination of complainant Peter Chanda, who is New Congress Party (NCP) leader, NDC vice president Josephs Akafumba addressed the court and applied for an adjournment on grounds that the lawyers Keith Mweemba, Gilbert Phiri, and Christopher Mundia, who had been representing Kambwili, have withdrawn their services.
And Magistrate Felix Kaoma was disappointed with the conduct of lawyers for Chishimba Kambwili over their failure to inform the court that they have stopped representing their client.
In his ruling Mr. Kaoma reluctantly granted the application but was disappointed with the lawyers’ lack of courtesy to inform the court in advance that they had withdrawn their services of representing Kambwili.
He said the lawyers should have at least sent a notice of withdrawal in the morning before the court sat and that yesterday’s occurrence was aimed at delaying the case.
Mr. Kaoma then directed the parties to pick four dates in November for the State to conclude its case. The matter has been adjourned to November 9, 10, 16, and 17, 2020.
And commenting on the lawyers’ withdrawal of legal representation from him, Kambwili said it would be unethical for him to discuss lawyer-client relationship and that it is their constitutional right to choose who they want to represent.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal has set next Tuesday as ruling on the State’s application to stay proceedings in a case Chishimba Kambwili has applied for renewal of his application to challenge Lusaka Principal Magistrate, David Simusamba’s decision to refuse to recuse himself from handling his forgery case.