By CHARLES MUSONDA
THE case in which Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi is charged with intermeddling in her late husband Geoffrey Hambulo’s estate has been re-allocated to another court.
This follows the decision by Lusaka Magistrate Nthandose Chabala, who is believed to be related to the complainant, to recuse herself from handling the case on Monday.
Ms Nawakwi is at loggerheads with her step children who claimed she was not legally married to their father which compelled her to produce a marriage certificate to court which showed that she and the late husband, Geoffrey Hambulo, were married at St Ignatius Parish Catholic Church on December 22, 2014.
While the matter is in the high court, the children took her to magistrate court claiming that she was intermeddling with property.
In the high court she has argued that her husband has executed a will entitling her to privileges of a widow.
Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Dominic Makalicha yesterday re-allocated the case to Resident Magistrate Felix Kaoma but the latter was not available for Nawakwi to take plea before him.
Nawakwi, the 62-year-old farmer, is scheduled to take plea this Friday in the complaint filed by Mr. Hambulo’s children.
The first particulars of offence are that Nawakwi on unknown dates but between December 2021 and January 2022 moved a John Deer planter, a sherrer, fork lifter, cutter, and a baleigh, which form part of the Mr. Hambulo’s estate, to her farm in Chisamba.
In the second particulars it is alleged that on unknown dates but between January 12 and 25, 2022, Nawakwi declined to hand over keys to properties forming part of the estate.
Third particulars are that on unknown dates but between the same dates, Nawakwi had continued to tell people who are supposed to hand over property forming part of the estate and tenants renting flats at plot number 54, Luwato Road, Roma, Lusaka, to ignore letters of administration issued by the High Court for Zambia; labelling them as fake so that she can collect the same.
It is also alleged in fourth particulars that on unknown dates but between January 12 and 25, 2022, Nawakwi had continued to claim the late Mr. Hambulo’s farm as her own, threatening administrators, and using insulting language.
The main allegation is that as a result of her actions, Nawakwi has been interfering or intermeddling in the affairs of the late Mr. Hambulo’s estate.
