Kambwili, Nkombo slapped with K5 million costs

ROAN Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili and Mazabuka Central’s Garry Nkombo have seven days to settle costs ordered by the Lusaka High Court in the impeachment case after the courts threw out their application for joinder.

This is contained in a letter dated 24th May, 2018 from the petitioners who have demanded the settlement of K5 million as costs after the court condemned the duo with costs. Lawyers to the petitioners, Lewis Mosho Advocates on behalf of their clients Robert Chabinga and Henry Mulenga have written to the lawyers on the defence for execution of the order. “Further to the above matter and the ruling delivered by the High Court on 24th May 2018, wherein Honourable Chishimba Kambwili and Honourable Garry Nkombo were condemned to pay costs, we write to advise that we peg our collective costs at a modest ZMW 5,000,000 for urgent settlement by your respective clients. “Should we not receive the said costs within 7 days from the date hereof, we re- serve our rights,” they letter read. The two MPs had applied for a joinder to the impeachment case where Mr Chabinga and Mr Mulenga have petitioned the Courts over the proposed motion of impeachment said to have been taken to Parliament. But Lusaka High Court Justice Ainese Banda-Bobo dismissed the application and refused to join the two on grounds that they, despite being the movers of the motion, do not have sufficient interest to warrant them being joined. The Lady Justice found the two legislators of forum shopping when they sought to be joined to a judicial review on impeachment on matters that where already before the Constitutional Court. The courts also added that their application for joinder was anchored on a wrong provision of the law. Earlier, mover of the motion; UPND Parliamentary whip, Nkombo and Roan MP Kambwili being the seconder, asked to join the case on grounds that any decision which would be arrived at would affect them. The two petitioners challenged the Attorney General over the impeachment motion which the two MPs moved before the House.