By CHARLES MUSONDA
THE State has been granted a last adjournment in a matter former National Democratic Congress (NDC) president Chishimba Kambwili has been found with a case to answer for defamation of the President.
Kambwili has been put on his defence for alleging that Lusaka business executive Valden Findlay was allegedly using the Presidential jet to courier narcotic drugs.
When the matter came up yesterday for continued defence before Lusaka Magistrate Felix Kaoma, private prosecutor Charles Changano applied for an adjournment on grounds that the prosecution need to look at certain instructions they have received from their client Peter Chanda, the New Congress Party (NCP) president and complainant in the matter.
Mr. Changano, who co-prosecutes the case with State Counsel Emmanuel Bupe Mwansa and lawyer Jonas Zimba, said the prosecutors need to look at the instructions and discuss them with Mr. Chanda.
He promised the court that yesterday’s adjournment should be the last one, saying he knows that the case has dragged since 2019.
He said this was only the second adjournment the prosecution sought and that his application for the adjournment was reasonable.
In response, one of the defence lawyers, Mr Keith Mweemba did not object to the application for the adjournment but that it had inconvenienced the court and wasted its time and stationery.
In his ruling, Mr. Kaoma agreed with Mr. Mweemba that adjournments, especially unnecessary ones should never be entertained.
He said since there was no objection from the defence he gave the prosecution the last adjournment and warned that at the next sitting the court shall proceed with the case whether or not they will be ready.
He then adjourned the matter to this Friday, May 14, 2021.
