By FLAVIOR KANUNGO
NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili has tested negative for Covid-19, Copperbelt Medical Director, Robert Zulu has told the Lusaka Magistrate’s court.
Dr Zulu told the court that Kambwili was retested for Covid-19 on September 1 and the results came out negative on September 4, adding that the results were communicated to Mr. Kambwili on Monday September 7.
Principal Resident Magistrate David Simusamba last week summoned the doctor in-charge of the Covid-19 testing exercise on the Copperbelt and the acting Medical Superintendent at Roan Antelope General Hospital inLuansya to explain why Kambwili’s Covid-19 test results had delayed.
Kambwili has missed several court appearances since he tested positive for Covid-19 on August 9, 2020.
This is in a case in which Kambwili is facing charges of forgery, uttering a false document and giving false information to a public officer.
And in cross examination, acting Medical Superintendent at Roan Antelope General Hospital Dr Chimese Mwansa told the court that Kambwili presented difficulties in breathing, gastritis and hypertension. He was later swabbed for Covid-19 at the Tropical Disease Research Centre in Ndola.
Dr Mwansa explained the results came out on August 16, after which Kambwili came for a retesting on September 1, 2020.
Mr Simusamba asked Dr.Mwansa whether she received a court order to speed up the process of the second results and in response, Dr. Mwansa told that court that she was not informed about the court and waited for the normal procedure in attaining the results.
And defence lawyer Emmanuel Kaluba asked Dr. Mwansa when the latest results were communicated to his client and in response, Dr. Mwansa said Kambwili was told about his results on Monday, September 7. The court then ordered that the doctor in charge of Covid-19 testing exercise at the Tropical Disease Research Centre to issue authenticated results of the initial Covid-19 tests conducted on August 9, 2020.
The matter was adjourned to September 15, for continued defence.
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