It was a tough day in the Supreme Court when Bishop John Mambo found himself in a contempt of court trial when he was expecting a reprimand.
Bishop Mambo found himself facing a full bench of the Supreme Court headed by Deputy Chief Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa and his attempts to laugh his way out of trouble failed as he was told that trial had started since he had denied the charge.
The Bishop visibly squirmed and tried to plead for leniency from the Justices but in vain, as he was firmly told that trial would continue.
The man of God found himself on the wrong side of the law following a contempt of court charge slapped on him after he had written to the Chief Justice alleging that the judiciary was incompetent and delivered judgment in a suspicious manner in the case of Savenda Management Service Limited Vs Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited.
With a lot of posturing, Bishop Mambo begged the court to allow him engage counsel to take him through the process.
This was after he realised that trying to cajole his way out of the matter, was not working.
The Bishop told the Justices that money to hire a lawyer would not be a problem because most of the justices were his friends and would give him money.
At this point, Justice Mwanamwabwa warned Bishop Mambo that he was going too far by soliciting for money from judges. Bishop Mambo then pleaded that the words be struck off record, but the court did not respond.
State Counsel John Sangwa was called to testify and in the middle of his submission, Bishop Mambo rose and claimed he did not want to be ambushed and that he did not see Mr Sangwa’s testimony as relevant to his case.
“I am fearing how proceedings are going. I am not following my colleague. I expected to be given what I am coming to court for. Once I received the summons, I thought I should come and hear my charge but since you are proceeding with trial, permit me to engage a lawyer who can take me through this,” Bishop Mambo said. When Justice Mwanamwambwa asked why he had not mentioned that he needed a lawyer and why he had not engaged one in the seven days he had had since being summoned, Bishop Mambo said his expectation was that when he went to court, he would merely be reprimanded or warned. “I only wrote a letter and did not publish it,” Bishop Mambo said. “I have a lot of respect for the court and it appears I am being intimidated.”
Asked if he wanted to apply for an adjournment like another accused person, Gregory Chifire, facing four counts of contempt of court, had done earlier, Bishop Mambo said he was not following Chifire’s way but doing it for himself.
The matter has been adjourned to August 17, 2018.
Below is the court verbatin as captures by Diggers reporter
(Bishop Mambo is called to the stand and the charge is read to him. He pleads not guilty.)
Judge Mwanamwambwa: The first witness will be Mr John Peter Sangwa. Can you tell us your names?
Sangwa: My full names are John Peter Sangwa. I’m 52 years old. I reside in Lusaka West. I’m a legal practitioner.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: Are you aware that there was a court case between Savenda Limited and Stanbic Zambia Limited?
Sangwa:Yes I’m aware.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: You are aware that it started in the High Court?
Sangwa: Yes your honour.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: It went in favour of Savenda Limited?
Sangwa: Yes your honour.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: Can you confirm that Stanbic appealed and the case went (in favour) of Stanbic?
Sangwa: That’s correct.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: Next Savenda went to Supreme Court and the judgement was in favour of Stanbic?
Sangwa: That’s right.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: Would you confirm that you wrote a letter to the Chief Justice concerning this judgement?
Sangwa: Yes I did send a letter to the honourable Chief Justice in relation to the judgement by the Supreme Court. The letter is dated April 12, 2018. (Letter is produced and read out by Sangwa.)
Bishop Mambo: My Lord, am I allowed to say something? Because I’m avoiding being ambushed. I’m receiving these documents (Sangwa’s letter), apart from the Bible, I’m a layperson. I thought this appearing was for me to come and hear the Lordships give me what I was supposed to be coming to courts for and there after, I seek legal minds to help me. When I wrote the letter to Chief Justice, I was expecting a response [but] instead I got the summons. And respecting the court, I decided to avail myself and I thought I will be given liberty to engage counsel so that he/she can help in this matter. I’m not talking about money. You can see some of the VIP’s [here], they are my own brothers so they will contribute.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: You remember we asked you to plea the charge. You said you denied.
Bishop Mambo: My Lord I did say that.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: If you say you deny it then we have to hold a trial. What are you saying now?
Bishop Mambo: I was simply saying that, permit me with power that you have, to allow me time to engage a counsel.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: Why didn’t you say so after making a plea of not guilty?
Bishop Mambo: My Lord I’m not in church, I’m in court.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: Yes you are court. Why didn’t you say so before pleading not guilty?
Bishop Mambo: My Lord, I’m simply begging, I’m not here to argue with the court.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: We are trying to find out why you did not say so in the earlier stage.
Bishop Mambo: I’m simply saying…I doubt if you are a prophet, you would have read my mind.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: I don’t want to be a prophet I’m just keeping court procedure. The court procedure is this, once you plead not guilty, or once you are served with a charge, you will need a lawyer. Do you understand? When were you served with the summons? That was on Tuesday last week.
Bishop Mambo: Yes your honour. All I know myself is that I wrote a letter. I did not go to the press, I did not go anywhere. What I expected as a layperson is normal practice. Since Kaunda days, when you write a letter to an institutional office, you expect a response.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: Your main concern here is that in the mean time, you need a lawyer. Now we are saying, why didn’t you engage one?
Bishop Mambo: My Lord, the Deputy Chief Justice, I have a lot of respect for you. I have a lot of respect for you. What I didn’t know, and what you are trying to correct here, it should help me understand. But if I appear here, and I appear intimidated, it’s not going to react.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: Bishop, we just want to find out why you did not engage a lawyer for the past seven days?
Bishop Mambo: We are in a Christian nation. I’m saying [that] it’s not that it was difficult for me to get a lawyer, all I did was get to respect the court. That I will go and hear, thereafter I will appeal to you, the bench to give me time to find a lawyer. Being a layperson, I do not know whether this matter boarders on criminality or it’s Constitutional. So it’s after this now that I can take all the documents that I have for me to engage someone. I’m simply saying, in a Christian nation, a country that has a new Constitution, those are the rights that should be respected. So I’m just merely begging that if you allowed me, I’m not saying [that] I will not manage to find a lawyer.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: So in short you are applying for an adjournment for more time to engage a lawyer like Mr Chifire did?
Bishop Mambo: That is my appeal. It is a very simple appeal. Give me time so that I’m able to engage a lawyer. I have known what the charges are. If I engage someone, I will be able to explain why I’m engaging that person. I could have done it [earlier] but I did not know what I was coming for.
Judge Mwanamwambwa: …that document which has been given as part of his (Sangwa’s) evidence, which you did not object, now we are going to invite him to produce it. Thereafter, we will consider your application. Since the State Counsel read the letter, we invite him to read his article, thereafter we will consider your application.
Sangwa: (Reads his article…)
Judge Mwanamwambwa: …Bishop, we have now come to your application. Although you were expected to make that application immediately after pleading, we have considered it. We will grant an adjournment to enable [you] engage a lawyer. Bishop your matter is hereby adjourned to Friday August 17, 2018 at 09:00 hours.
Source: Daily Nation
What is the role of John Sangwa in this case? What is his interest?
John Sangwa wrote a long article in support of the Supreme Courts overturning of the High Court judgement and he praised the quality of the delivery. He opined in his op-ed, the Quality of the Supreme Court judgement was about the best to come out of Zambia in years blah, blah. So he is just another nail in Mambo’s coffin
I wish it was THAT ONE who was pinned down like this former man of God. They like daring the court too much. Calling the justices all sorts of insults. Now defend yourself kiki….
Yet, this is the same Sangwa who had a spat with the former Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala and calling on the latter to go.
Fake bishop, Mambo dancing to the tune of Judge!!
You will truly know Christ Jesus from this encounter
All the best!!
I love Zambia!
It’s like reading book of apocalypse.
Everyday is drama and action.
Hollywood should just shift to Zambia and shoot free movies.
It is amazing at the speed at which the Supreme court was able to start trial in this case when they have cases pending for over 15 years (kangaroo court for sure!)
This whole nonsense is not fit for Democracy
This matter is subjudice now. The less said about it the better. My comment is reserved until it is disposed of.
The Judiciary jas truly gone to the dogs…they even have time for swift adjournment yet they are people rotting in prison waiting for their cases to come up!!
I also find astounding that they got the full bench to agree a convenient date in a week when its common knowledge the judges’ calendar is full for months ahead. How they swung this one is a marvel!! The man just wrote to Chief Justice and all she could have done is respond than misapply resources this way when the judges could have been attending to real cases! Its the judiciary that is in the dock here not the Bishop and Mr. Chifire. A ploy to silence those that might have questions about their conduct. Shame!
HH went to the dogs a long time ago! You didn’t realise it because you have the same bed! We did!
I am also at a loss like the Bishop. I don’t understand what is going on!.
The Bishop is naive he thinks he was going for tea and bible study…really laughable…always lawyer up when you are in court, in fact these Judges are hell bent on crushing anybody talking about this issue than investigating it. The Chief Justice is just a figurehead probably involved as well
Dem: The whole thing was started by Mambo himself. He thought it was just a matter of saying not guilt kwasila. This field is indeed confusing to laypersons like you and me. Just look at their English very suggestive and in research it is not allowed. Like: Judge Mwanamwambwa: You are aware that it started in the High Court? So, Bishop thought it was child’s play. Simple questions, can you even believe that this is man who talks with sliver splashing like hell. Judge Mwanamwambwa: Bishop, we just want to find out why you did not engage a lawyer for the past seven days? Bishop Mambo: We are in a Christian nation. I’m saying [that] it’s not that it was difficult for me to get a lawyer, all I did was get to respect the court. That I will go and hear, thereafter I will appeal to you, the…
Trying to intimidate those with opposing views in a constitution democracy by these misguided judges of Lungu.This is how dictatorship starts. Justice should not be the preserve for the rich but the poor equally. Balakuchitaububi Bishop Ukose.
Its free for all…there is nowhere to turn to …what do you expect when you push those a candidate who was barred by LAZ for fraud, he wouldn’t clean up the system.
@#4. You are right. Missguided THESE “Support Your Local Team” members!
I’m not sure about Zambian Procedure but a person must first fully understand the charge against them and given time to fully prepare for the case. What happened in this case is procedurely unfair for administration of Justice. Again I dont have knowledge of Zambian law but most of our African legal procedure is borrowed from English and Roman sources, etc. I’m dont like the Bishop’s general attitude but in this case he was treated unfairly.
These judges really know how to trap someone. If they are fair they should let the man hire counsel whatever his political stance is. They have to know that they administer justice on both the rich and the poor on behalf of the Almighty and God has commanded that they ‘should not pervert justice’ because he will hold them accountable.
He was prepared when he was writing nonsense about the nation’s judiciary! You think HaJayJay is not prepared?
He treated them unfairly first and their turn came. It is easy to insult policemen when they are walking in your compound when in their station it is a different game Bwana,
Courts of law knows no lay man Bishop Maambo. Ignorance is NO defense @ law. I thought the way you are outspoken you are conversant with the law. Pit you man ,get your self a better Lawyer.
He is there singing about Zambia being a Christian nation…whatever that means..its only a religious nation when it suits the politicians.
These incessant attacks on the judiciary and our judges must stop. kainde set this bad and dangerous precedence and the gullible 1.d.i.ots like Mambo followed suit for personal gain and political populism. Sadly it has blown up in his face and has to defend himself lest he be cited for contempt. Nkani yalula, Mambo…kwekwekwekwe…
HH next. Then Larry Mweetwa. They are gullible.
“I WAS USED, CHEATED AND DUMPED BY HH” says Daniel Munkombwe. Bishop Mambo wamuziba bwino Yesu manje, boma ni boma . Bishop everyone knows that you are a staunch UPND cadre and that you are paid by HH for your careless anti- government stance. Now see how you have been embarrassed by these highly learned legal minds. My advice is that as a man of GOD, as you claim to be, you must be politically neutral, don’t seem to side with any political party. Bishop, in contrast, you have always sided with UPND thereby reducing yourself to a cadre. This HH is just using you for his political benefit after that he is going to dump you like he dumped late munkombwe For this reason I lost the little respect I had for you.
UPND does not respect the government and all its institutions.
These justices are very efficient when it is a case that questions their actions. There are cases of national importance which they have dismally failed on – case in point the presidential election petition.
I find it strange that they wanted the case to proceed without checking whether the defendant had legal counsel . And if he did not have one , to afford him the opportunity to secure one before proceeding with the case.
Putting the Judiciary in disrepute is an attack at the core of Zambia. Many people have been ignored before when they could be on the same seat this UPND cadre is on and they interpret that we are a weak nation. It is time we began to roll.
These judges must be very careful with such kind of behaviour, there will be a day coming when they will have to account for this kind of behaviour. We all know them very well from the time Annel Silungwe refused to recuse himself from Kambarage Kaunda’s murder conviction while knowing only too well that the chap was his own wife’s nephew and when on to acquit him for killing Tabeth Mwanza in cold blood. Nguluba as JC was caught read handed foraging in Chiluba’s stinking pocket and both had to be removed from office unceremoniously. Zambia has the most rotten bench, it stinks to the very heavens above. If Marvin wants, let him site me for contempt and he will see what I will do to him and his other wigged fools on that stinking banch.
All of us are men of God unless one opts out. So please stop referring this charlatan as a man of God.
It’s difficult to sympathize with John Maambo, more often he chooses the side of the bread that is buttered. It’s easy to buy, he has no problems choosing the wrong side as long as he’s paid. He was involved in the Zambeaf Portland Cement saga now he’ll soon meet his Waterloo. Think before you talk. What was wrong in Stanbic reporting Savenda to the Credit Bureau? Savenda defaulted and that’s a fact
“The judiciary is incompetent” sounds familiar! It is time Zambia must make those who hold the Justice Ministry in contempt to dance to the law. Nevers was put out of the hook once. He must never be given a second chance. Hazaluza Hagain must follow.