Minister Yaluma cited for contempt

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:14:02 +0000

By CHIKUMBI KATEBE

MINISTER of Mines Christopher Yaluma has been cited for contempt for defying a judgment and ignoring the writ of possession granted by the Lusaka High Court.

High Court Justice Matthew Zulu, in his order, has allowed for contempt proceedings to be commenced against the minister together with the Attorney General, ZCCM-IH and a private mining company, Katengo Resources Limited.

This is contained in a ruling signed earlier in the month following the trio’s failure to surrender the mining exploration license to Avarmma Mining.

Mr Justice Zulu, in his ruling, established a prima facie case that warranted leave to commence contempt proceedings to allow for investigations on the alleged defiance by the minister of a court order.

“I am satisfied that the applicant (Avarmma) has established a prima facie case to issue leave for contempt proceedings and to enable me conduct further investigations into the matter of alleged disobedience,” he said.

The court has since ordered that contempt proceedings be commenced against the Mr Yaluma, director of the ministry’s cadastral unit Kennedy Chibonga and the director of mines Mooya Lumamba for defying a judgment and writ of possession granted to Avarmma by the court.

“It must be noted that on the 15th of March 2017, I delivered a judgment herein in favour of the applicant, Avarmma Mining Limited, in which I ordered that the mine in dispute be restored to the said Avarmma Mining Limited.

“However, it appears the said order has not been complied with and the mine has since not been returned to Avarmma Mining Limited as ordered,” he said.