COURT SLAMS STATE FOR DELAYING LUSAMBO’S CASE

LUSAKA Magistrate, Trevor Kasanda yesterday blasted the State that he cannot be dragging them to defend their own case where former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo is accused of attempting to interfere with a witness.

This was after the court and Lusambo's lawyers waited for the State for over an hour to be at the court.

Mr. Kasanda said it was unfair to keep the court and defence waiting.

"We have to pull you from your office, it's so unfair. I should not pull you out of your office to come and defend your matter," Mr. Kasanda said.

In this matter, Lusambo pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to interfere with a witness contrary to Section 112 (1) (b) as read with section 389 (1) of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Lusambo was found with a case to answer and put on his defence. In his defence, he denied interfering with the State's witnesses.

It is alleged in count one that Lusambo on a date unknown but between February 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022 in Lusaka with intent to obstruct the due course of justice did endeavour to dissuade or prevent Mr Cosmas Kapula Chalusa to give evidence as a witness before a court of law.

Allegations in count two and three are that Lusambo between April 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022 in Lusaka did endeavour to dissuade or prevent Mr Ernest Sumani and Mr Mundia Mataa to give evidence as witnesses before a court of law.

And when the matter came up for continued defence, a businessman of Kafue, Mr. Innocent Phiri told the court that Lusambo never interfered with witnesses instead he greeted them because they are friends and used to have a meal together in the Copperbelt when he was provincial minster.

Mr. Phiri said it was between April 1 and 30, 2022 when Lusambo and his wife Nancy Manase appeared at the Lusaka Magistrate court before magistrate Faides Hamaundu for a court session where they are charged with possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime and the matter did not take off on that date and was adjourned to a later date. He said after the adjournment, Lusambo went outside the court room and greeted the witnesses.

"As they adjourned, Lusambo and Manase went outside the court room, where journalists were taking photos and videos. I saw Mr Chalusa, Sumani and Mataa, and Lusambo greeted them, I know that they have been friends and they used to come where I was staying with Lusambo in Ndola to have a meal and chat together.

Lusambo greeted them and went outside the court premises. He then escorted his wife to her car and we went with another car as we drove out to Makebi Zulu law firm," he said.

However, one of defence lawyers, Mr. Emmanuel Phiri informed the court that his client wants to bring a last witness in the matter and applied for an adjournment for a later date.