SUSPENDED Supreme Court judge Philip Musonda last Thursday visited murder suspect Mathew Mohan at Chimbokaila Prison in Lusaka.This is according to the Daily Mail.
Prison records showed that Judge Musonda signed in the visitors’ book at 10:00 hours in the morning on his mission to meet Mohan, currently serving a two-and-half-year sentence for theft.
President Sata last week on Monday suspended Judge Musonda and High Court judges Charles Kajimanga and Nigel Mutuna and set up a tribunal to investigate them in the case of Development Bank of Zambia v Post Newspapers Limited, JCN Holdings Limited and Mutembo Nchito.
The Daily Mail revealed that Judge Musonda visited Mohan at the prison three days after his suspension.
“The purpose of the visit was to have a meeting with Mohan, who is a convict there,” a source told the Daily Mail.
“Judge Musonda used a male relative to access prison and Mohan but the nature of discussions between him and Mohan remained vague,” the source said.
The meeting was allegedly constantly characterised by gestures, with Mohan seemingly disagreeing with the judge, and it lasted 20 minutes before the judge clad in a blue tracksuit bottom walked out.
Judge Musonda wore a baseball cap and a white golf T-shirt when he entered the heavily-secured prison.
According to sources, Mohan may be a key witness in the forthcoming tribunal that shall hear arguments for and against the three suspended judges in due course.
President Sata has appointed a three-member tribunal to investigate the three judges and it will be headed by Malawi High Court judge Lovemore Chikopa. Others are Justice Thomas Ndhlovu and Justice Naboth Mwanza, both retired judges of the High Court of Zambia.
The move has cheered the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) but displeased the opposition, who have been making frantic efforts to circumvent the tribunal.
And the latest backing for President Sata has come from ambassador Darlington Mwape who served as President Levy Mwanawasa’s legal advisor.
In an interview he said: “There is precedence to this matter and late President Mwanawasa did it when he invoked his powers under Article 58 and constituted a tribunal on the proposal to remove the then Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mukelebai.”
He added: “The President is within his powers, we should not think that the Judiciary should not be checked, let us ask two questions: Is it constitutional? Yes. Is it within the powers of the President? Yes. If the two questions are answered in the affirmative, why should people complain about this decision?”
He adds that the security of tenure for judges must not be used as an argument against judges in question and that the matter borders on both legal and governance aspects.
Mr Mwape said the three arms of Government are meant to provide checks and balances to one another, saying the Judiciary must not feel it is above the law.
Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Edgar Lungu yesterday presented Judge Chikopa with an appointment letter for him to chair the tribunal.
[Daily Mail]
Suspended Supreme court judge visiting a criminal/convict!!! Wow! Is this really true LT? Go ahead Judge Chikopa. Open the can of worms. We cant wait to see the rot or innocence that will come out.
Tribunal or no tribunal, can we first have the K14billion back. If those judges are involved in some wrong doing, let them face the law just like Nchito and Mmembe should face the law for stealing our money.
Dream on biatch
Yes Mimi; much as there seems to be something wrong done by the judges, the K14 billion kwacha must be recovered at all costs. Remember the Chiluba matrix of plunder? This case also smells of plunder. Mr Fred Mmembe must stop using his newspaper to silence anyone who is talking about the K14 billion. It is our money and we want it back.
Maybe I am lost, why are people jumping to the conclusion that the money will not be paid, i have not heard anyone say ‘don’t pay’ or ‘we won’t pay’, Zambians are always unnecessarily ahead of themselves. Relax and start talking when what you fear actually happens. we all want them to pay.
Whats wrong to visit a friend in prison? kwateni order bafikala
You are soooooooo shallow…they are not related and are not even friends…they are business associates, people have been quick to judge Sata…watch and learn!
wapya munzi ka. Now l am beginning to suspect that Judge Musonda is corrupt
The suspended judge is just trying to do some damage control here please. Yabija makani. Give him some air and space to incriminate himself and eventually serve a longer sentence than Mohan. Mohan is being told what to say or not say when the Shi+ hits the fan.
Where are all those loud mouths and the brainless opposition who were crying foul about these suspensions? SHAME ON YOU – YOU ACCOMPLICES IN CRIME. You should be charged with obstructing the course of justice imbeci!es.
WELL DONE SATA & PF.
Supreme Court judge visiting a criminal ka? iliko bad iyi
Darlington Mwape is the one oiling Maureen mwanawasa, let him continue doing what he knows best instead of meddling in what he does not know. How come he has remained as an ambassador when he is an MMD member? Answer is simple, Tribe.
Terrible…….
Is this the reformed Daily Mail under PF? This story has been twisted to put the Judge in bad light,this is as good as gossip not a story per se,Zambian Journalism….no wonder none gets recognised at CNN awards.
Is CNN clean? Getting an award from CNN is not something special. I would rather prefer getting an award from Havard University or UNZA my friend.
Is anyone clean in our government? Whats the judge doing with this convict? These two should av nothing in common!!
Judge Phillip is corrupt and i know why i say so.
Coming to think about it Mohan once said he had bribed a judge during his trial. Mawe Mawe
Iwe # 7 Joe, Wwhat has oilling Maureen and Tribe got to do with Darlington Mwape putting the records straight on the powers of the President and passed practices? Don’t be cheap Joe, argue your case according to facts. Don’t try to derail well meaning blogars from correct thinking on serious matters.
Oilling or no oilling; Tribe or no Tribe Darlington Mwape is right as a professional.
TP tell us why you say that kabili
# 9 Ugly Truth, are you denying on behalf of Supreme Court Judge Philip Musonda that he did not sign the prison’s visitors book? You want to believe only when you see his signature and the prisoner he visited? Well, it is withing your rights to visit Chimbokaila prison when you go back home so that you can clear your doubts. Leave the Daily Mail to do their job freely as empowered by the new dispensation.
Keep it up Daily Mail.
Yes! TP. Come on. Let us have it, don’t be shy. # 14 George Mpombo has a point. Let us share.
People please learn to analys articles critically. The first question is the source of the story, the Daily Mail: what does that say? It is a Govt strategy to smear mud on these Judges in order to bring doubt among the general public. Evidently it is working judging from the comments posted here. A Supreme Court Judge cannot be so foolish to wear a baseball cap for disguise and then sign his rightful name on the records. Please! If anyone should know, he should know better. Yesterday, it was the Times of Zambia quoting a Lawyer as advising the three Judges to resign. Tomorrow it will be the post with another fabricated story against the suspended Judges. People don’t be so gullible!
@7 Joe
What has “Darlington oiling Maureen” got to do with the story about the Judge visiting the prison?
Darlington has been ######### Maureen Mwanawasa from the time Levy was battling prostate cancer. He even recently divorced his lovely wife just so ##########
Mohan being the key witness for what? my foot
First of all the Prseident himself is trying to protect people who do not want to own up to wrong doing. Mmembe and Nchinto should pay back wat they owe because they have to_please lets have sanity this govt is no different anyway from our former leaders and they even entered a nolle prosequi for Mahthani who i still think is guilty_i have nop problem with the judges being probed but first Mr. Sata clean up your mess there is no sacred cow you said it yourself but now others seeem to be above the law.
# 17 (and # 9), there are people who will not believe a story even if it was conveyed by a man or woman who died and came back from the other side. You strike me as that calibre of idio+. Why don’t we meet here using the same names in say the next days as the truth behind this story unfolds and compare notes again. I am just giving you an opportunity to become slightly smarter, but given your blind hatred, non-progressing career, failed marriage and family life, that may be asking too much, so I will leave your conscious to speak to you when the time comes and you are proved wrong.
What is wrong in a judge visiting a convict?arent judges supposed to be reformers of convicts?His honour is just following up on his duty.This has been his practice in the past.
Ba daily mail nabo.why not give us full infor on what mohan and musonda were discussing instead of publishing a mare visit.
@It is an even greater worry:
I thought you were offering a good debate but by virtue of advancing insults and personal attacks on people you don’t know, shows a lot about your mentality and kind of person you are. I am not sure I blog to trade personal insults with empty tins so find some like minds and you will have a field day!
Besides, the Judge has to prepare for the tribunal as well and if he believes Mohan will have crucial evidence in support why should he not visit him and seek his support? Simple minds will be quick to draw unforgiving conclusions. He is a Supreme Court Judge and will know better than approaching convicts in a state prison…. Please!
Daily mail, what are the implications? Mohan is connected to DBZ v POST & ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS ?
# 24, My nominating you an idio+ is not an insult. It is a statement of fact. I am happy to qualify this nomination. You have not been to Chimbokaila to determine the truth of the visit, so your dismissal of the Daily Mail story is baseless. Secondly, you do a complete 180 degrees and ASSUME and attribute intelligence as the motive behind a visit you do not believe has not taken place.
So in my books, and with very good reason, only a foo! would want to follow your confused trail of pseudo-logic. I am happy to say I am nobody’s foo! , least of all yours.
Ackam’s razor states that the simplest explanation is the most probable. But I will not waste time outlining that for you.
Judge musonda is the one who aquired FTJ. What a calibre of a judge in Musonda’
Judge visiting a Convict? He knows that some cases were not based on true ethics. Waiting for the investigation results. To shame Zambians / MMD cadres who are still in denial and condemn anything. WHAT A SHAME
we still want our money back first, let fred and nchinto coff up first then we can talk about the tribunal..
Phillip Musonda has no shame whatsoever! His brazen stupidity also shows just how morally gutless this man really is! You know, it is like one is accused of having an “illegal” adulterous affair with someone else’s wife to which you vehemently deny but only to be seen in a public place fratenizing with the same woman. That an unintelligent judge like this fool sat on our high and supreme court benches dispensing so called justice makes my skin creep. Imagine the number of rotten and stinking decisions he has impregnated our laws of precedent with! The man needs to be shot, in the stupid head!
We don’t want corrupt judges but can Mmembe and Nchito please pay up the the K14 billion of tax payers money.We need medicines at UTH.Zambians shouldn’t be taken for a ride.The truth will always find you out,no matter how long one may hide.
Oppostion leaders meetign the EU Delegation leader on this issue, kindly include this little detail of the suspended judge making a courtesy call on a convict, a potential tribunal witness, if you dont mind!!!!
Let us just admit that Bembas are a cancer of corruption in Zambian society. These people (the judges and Ukwa) belong to Nigeria. They are just using the Constitution to sort each other out. There is nothing about morality or honour among criminals.
Mohan is in Prison
I am in Zambia why is the flag i have been given Congolese?
@ It is an even greater worry:
It appears my earlier message didn’t register. “I do not blog to trade insults with empty tins”. A person who starts a debate by insulting others participants is, by all accounts, the Idio+. The last word being an insult hence you see the need to disguise it past the moderator. And if you feel, you have to go that far then perhaps start questioning your integrity.
@It is an even Breyer worry:
I will now outline why I call you an empty tin! This is your statement, at 22 above, directed at me and a fellow blogger “…but given your blind hatred, non-progressing career, failed marriage and family life”….all this personal matters, said to a person you do not even know, never met and leaving on opposites of the Atlantic…need I say more?
Please leave Maureen alone. She deserves respect. She is a very formidable woman. If only we can have people like her in leadership. These judges are a very corrupt. Look at how much wealth they have despite being govt employees. They are all stinking rich characters. The judiciary is rotten indeed. It needs an overhaul. Mr President, pse continue the clean up. This should not be a group of untouchables.
#7 Joe. Dull approach to real issues. Don`t you have a private life also? Pse respect others. That is our mother you are trying to bring in to public ridicule using this site. Phew!I diot!! Panyo kushipila! Address the issue at hand to do with the corrupt Phillip Musonda instead of digressing.
Can anyone who has relatives or have had the pleasure to be accommodated at the taxpayers expense in those secure premises please tell us: Don’t they guards at visitor’s check-in verify and check a visitor’s name by comparing it with a ones passport or NRC? If so then that is the Judge who entered the prison…if they was CCTV camera this would have been resolved by now.
If Mohan may be a key witness in the forthcoming tribunal, have they moved him to a secure location?
Mwape must shut that hole in front of his face since he can not give a balanced view. Since his boss is the one making f@ck ups, we can not expect him to say anything negative or else he can lose his job. Just enjoy your stay there instead of making noise
we need the K14bn kwacha back..and then tribunal..
Just heard the name Musonda and i Knew he was corrupt. It seems being corrupt in northern province is learn’t in kindergarten.
Honestly this Judge is an embarsement he is guilty already before the onset of the tribunal. I cant belive this that a Judge can go to the prisone to visit a Murderer like mohan. His exellence did well to consistute the tribunal. Judges only visit prisones when they are on official duty hearing complaints from the prisoners by visiting this evil chap ka mohan he has exposed himself and knowing mohan he will expose this corrupt Judge and even add what he never did.
secondly the officer-incharge prisones and all the officers who were on duty shld tell the us what mohan discussed with the suspended judge. To start with mohan is on record of escaping from lawfull cutody and the prisone authority shld gurd this man carefully. every person who visits him shld be given a warder to listin
No it’s not Darlington Mwape oiling Maureen it is the only and only Dr Rajan Mathani. Mathani use to oil Maureen whilst Mwanawasha was sleeping in the next room.
Some bloggers surprise me. Clearly this Judge is out of step. What are the opposition saying now??????? MMD, UPND ……etc. Not forgetice their supporters and bloggers against the President but in support of the jail visitor. Mohan is now looking like an angel with a cordial visit from a judge
#47 Truth, your flag indicates you are in UK. Surely that is all you can contribute to Zambia by adding this `oiling` stupidity. What are you doing in UK? cleaning vimbuzu I suppose. You will be a Phiri anabwela on your return to Zambia. Your friends are making sensible contribution. *****! Makaka!
If you are facing a suspect mmembe tribunal, you will need to fight with all possible resources; if a hardcore criminal possesses vital information for your defence and that of justice e judiciary so be it. After all, the Judge did not hide his visit to Mohan, even the state funded and controlled daily mail has admitted this. When you are dealing with crooks like mmembe the end must surely justify the means.
How long has this suspended judge been visiting the convict ? If the anwer is none something aint straight here. Lt how reliable are to sources that Mohan may be a key witness in the forthcoming tribunal ? Lets just wait n see
But Daily mail also!! I thought the terms of reference are clear on the tribunal. I do not see any relationship between the terms of reference and Mohan’s case. I therefore do not envisage a situation where mohan is summoned by the tribunal unless he is of relevance to the case at hand which in this case is clearly not.
Notwithstanding the above, it is unthinkable that a supreme court judge can secretly visit a convicted criminal some of whose cases are still pending. If this is true then am afraid this justice is rotten to the core and as such should be dealt with accordingly.