By ROGERS KALERO
THE UPND in Chililabombwe has reversed its decision to bar 16 mealie meal traders from conducting their business in Konkola Township after its district chairman, Mr Timothy Musonda was summoned to answer contempt of court charges for allegedly defying a court injunction.
The UPND cadres under the leadership of Mr Musonda had repeatedly ignored a court injunction which restrained them from stopping or interfering with their business of the 16 mealie meal traders in Konkola township of Chililabombwe.
On October 26, 2021, when Mr Musonda was summoned to answer contempt of court charges, he promised to write a letter to authorise the 16 mealie meal traders to conduct their business in Konkola Township.
This is a case where UPND cadres are alleged to have disobeyed a court injunction which was obtained by the 16 mealie meal traders restraining UPND cadres from interfering with their business in Konkola Township.
According to a letter obtained by the Daily Nation, dated October 27, 2021 signed by Mr Musonda and addressed to the District Commissioner, the UPND has reversed the suspension of the community truck passage to Konkola in compliance with the court injunction in the matter.
“Reference is made to the letter dated 3rd September, 2021 in which the community mealie meal truck passage to Konkola was suspended.
“My office through the National Management serves to advise the reversal of the suspension of community truck passage to Konkola with immediate effect, in compliance with the court injunction in this matter,” read the reversal letter signed by Mr Musonda.
The letter was copied to Chililabombwe Member of Parliament Paul Kabuswe, the Mayor, constituency chairman and provincial chairman.
On September 3, 2021, Mr Musonda wrote a letter to ban the 16 mealie meal traders from conducting their business in Konkola Township.
The letter which was obtained by the Daily Nation, signed by Mr Musonda and addressed to the District Commissioner, said his office through the UPND National Management has allowed a new arrangement by the party to take over Konkola and Kasumbalesa community service.
The letter, which was written on September 3, 2021 stated that the party had decided that the permit for passage to trucks carrying mealie meal to Kasumbalesa community and Konkola Township by the current arrangement is suspended.
Last week, the Chililabombwe Magistrate Court ordered that Musonda should appear in court on October 26, 2021 to answer contempt of court charges for allegedly disobeying a court injunction granted to 16 mealie meal traders in Konkola Township.
The UPND cadres under the leadership of Mr Musonda have repeatedly ignored a court injunction which restrained them from stopping or interfering with their business of the 16 mealie meal traders in Konkola Township.
The UPND cadres disobeyed the court order and continued to stop the 16 traders from conducting their business, forcing them to seek a court intervention again.
In response, to the complaints of the traders, the Magistrate Court ordered that Mr Musonda should appear in court on October 26, 2021 to hear the plaintiff’s application for contempt of court.
On Tuesday, the court ordered that Mr Musonda should appear in court to answer contempt of court charges on November 4, 2021, but the date was brought forward to October 26, after complaints from the 16 traders that the UPND cadres had continued to disobey the court order.
