AFRICAN LIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES  CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST NAWAKWI IN MOTION

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA

THE Lusaka High Court has granted the African Life Financial Services (Z) Limited leave to commence contempt of court proceedings against Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi.

Ms Justice Susan Wanjelani has set June 15, 2021 as the date for Ms Nawakwi to appear and show cause as why she should not be sent to prison for contempt of court.

“Upon hearing of  counsel for the applicant  and upon reading the affidavit of Munakapaya Hantuba, it is hereby ordered and directed that the said applicant be and is hereby granted leave to apply for an order of contempt not court against alleged contemnor, Edith Nawakwi and that the costs of and incidental to the application be in cause,” she ordered

African Life had applied for leave to commence committal proceedings against Ms Nawakwi.

The company in a statement supporting application for leave to apply for order of committal stated that the matter between it and Mr Dickson Mtonga and 22 others is still active in court and the court is yet to determine whether or not it is liable to pay the 23 the sum of US$300, 000 or any sum at all.

However, on or about February 6, 2021, Ms Nawakwi is alleged to have made utterances at a press briefing which she misrepresented the facts in such a manner as to make it look as though African Life is liable to pay Mr Mtonga and others US$300, 000 and other monies, which is a matter pending in court.

African Life contended that Ms Nawakwi’s utterances are and were calculated at prejudicing the general public against it.