COURT REVOKES EMMANUEL MWAMBA’S BENCH WARRANT

LUSAKA Magistrate Trevor Kasanda has revoked a bench warrant issued against Patriotic Front (PF) information and publicity chairperson, Emmanuel Mwamba in a matter he is accused of assaulting a police officer who was on duty.

Magistrate Kasanda has also ordered that Mwamba should surrender his passport to the clerk of court and ask for permission whenever he wants to travel.

This was after the State applied that the court confiscate Mwamba's passport alleging that he was a flight risk.

However, in his ruling, Mr Kasanda said the accused was not a flight risk and admonished the State for misusing the word.

Mwamba, 53, who is also a PF presidential hopeful, is facing one count of assault on a Police Officer contrary to Section 250(b) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Mwamba on June 14, 2023 in Lusaka assaulted Detective Inspector Steven Simwenda, an officer of the Zambia Police Service, in the due execution of his duty.

It is also alleged that the incident happened in Woodlands area on Wednesday June 14, 2023 between 16:00 hours and 18:00 hours.

When the matter came up for return of bench warrant yesterday, the court asked an officer to explain what transpired in the execution of the bench warrant against the accused.

Mr. Kenneth Mwamba,48, of Lusaka west, a detective inspector based at Zambia Police Service crime one told the court that he managed to execute the warrant of arrest and the accused person was before court.

"Today have managed to execute the warrant of arrest, the accused person is before court, Emmanuel Mwamba. The warrant is here, and summons where served and before court," he said.

Mwamba's lawyer, Mr Makebi Zulu instead informed the court that the officer was lying because his client brought himself to court.

Mr. Zulu said the officer was not telling the court the truth and should apologize.

"The officer executed the warrant while the accused was already here, and the summons where served here. So, the accused brought himself to court, isn't it true Mr. Kenneth Mwamba?" yes it is, he responded."

The court called the accused to give reasons why he wasn't before it on pre-set dates. Mwamba apologised to the court stating that it was his last time he was missing court.

Mr. Mwamba told the court that he was away in the United States of America attending a conference.

The court heard his plea and extended his police bond. It has since adjourned the matter to March 18, 2023 for trial.