Two Lusaka magistrates have recused themselves from handling the case involving former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Ronnie Shikapwasha, his former Permanent Secretary, Samson Phiri and Journalist, Chanda Chiimba III.
Yesterday when the matter came up for reallocation after a meeting in chambers between Lusaka magistrate, Mwaka Mikalile, who handled the matter first, magistrate Mikalile recused herself and decided that the matter be sent back to the Chief Resident Magistrate for a reallocation.
And Chief Resident Magistrate, Joshua Banda, reallocated the matter to Magistrate Aridah Chuulu who also recused herself on moral grounds, saying she was handling another case where the third accused person, Samson Phiri, was appearing on similar charges.
Magistrate Chuulu asked the Anti Corruption Commission Prosecutor, Silumesi Muchula, if he informed the Chief Resident Magistrate on the coincidence, adding that in the interest of justice and fairness it was not possible for her to handle two cases involving the same accused person.
Magistrate Chuulu further said the situation could only be possible if there was only one magistrate, adding that such is not the case and therefore decide to send back the case to the Chief Resident Magistrate for relocation.
However, responding to the magistrate’s decision, defence lawyer, Hobday Kabwe, said he was also wondering why the magistrate had to allocate this matter to Ms Chuulu’s court knowing that there was another similar case his client was answering too.
But Anti Corruption Commission Prosecutor, Zenzo Zaza, told the court that it was possible that the Chief Resident Magistrate was not aware of the coincidence as he could have not allocated the matter to Ms Chuulu.
And Chief Resident Magistrate, Joshua Banda decided that the matter comes up for possible plea yesterday at 14:30 hours.
On Monday when the matter came up for plea, the matter could not take off as the prosecution team from the Anti Corruption Commission came late.
Mr Shikapwasha, Dr Phiri and Chiimba III are facing charges of abuse of office authority, unlawful printing and publication and being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
ZANIS
chanda chimba the false prophet needs repentance.These are the consequencies of bukandile.The general is a man of Gold or sorry God and he probably knows the scripture which says that ”by the same sword you rise and by the same shall you fall”.There’s always a time of reckoning when we use tax payers to cling on to power.Some of this money comes from the poor and hard earned money (acquired through tears,sacrifice,toll) and so lets not take these monies for granted
Chanda did broadcast facts. Why don’t people accept what they are? You have to take someone who showed us the truth on MCS to court sure? SHAME upon you all who support such injustices. Na imwe muzabvutika pasogolo apa!
Everyone is scared of denting their image in ruling on fake charges and if they are acquited,the python would be on their neck!
Not all judges want to work with Injustice minister
These people have God on their side. Just the confusion in the justice system tells you that the three sons of the soil are just being persecuted for no reason at all. Take for instance Chanda Chimba III; all what he said was true. He never originated any stories; all what he did was put together clips of incidents that already took place. What he did was compile the stories that were already in the public domain. So, how do you charge such a person? What crime has he committed really? Just by compiling what is already there someone commits a crime? Get serious naimwe. We all know that you are just ashamed that someone had the intiative to remind you of your misdeeds and now you want to pretend as if these events never took place. This will not take you anywhere.
Kom a Boma iyi… Kaya
Lusaka Times use the Generals correct title (Lt Gen) when reporting on him. He has served the Zambia for over 46 years of loyal and faithfull service. These charges are a joke, no wonder no self respecting judge wants to rule on these cases!
Bigkilo76. Repentance is so much needed by Sata and PF for daylight cheating the zambians and not Chanda Chimba III the true prophet who told us the truth, infact just reminding us of what we already knew unless you are in your early twenties meaning that you were young when the Satas were in control of govt. But for you the prophet told you, warning you in advance and you could not take heed: Woe on the zambians now because of such people like you.
Even judges are fearing to take up cases because they know that there are no substance in those cases. If they insist on the evidence provided by the prophet it will turn back on Sata as the stories he was publishing were just a reproduction of the Post Newspaper when they were shoting Sata in 2006. Now will the Post be jailed?
Revenge doesn’t pay let’s forget about the past let’s move on pipo want progress not waisting time in court while pipo are suffering please twapapata.we want actions don’t buy time for the second year in power.PF/UNIP.
Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm! Uwaikatako ni pye pye pye!
Hi, just wanted to say i liked this article.
Hi, just wanted to say i liked this article.