Makebi Zulu Advocates has expressed shock at the summoning of their lawyer and has contended that the action by ACC amounts to contempt of court.
Lusaka, June 27 – The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned lawyer Jonas Zimba and former Defence Minister, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.
This is related to a case in the People Vs Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba where he has been accused of not declaring interest when he served as Minister of Defence.
In court, the State allege that in a business contract of a company, Cazon Global with the Zambian Government, GBM did not declare interest.
In his court defence, Hon. Mwamba produced proof of declaration of interest, a matter ACC is claiming was not done at the material time when he served as Minister of Defence.
But Jonas Zimba’s law firm, Makebi Zulu Advocates has expressed shock at the summoning of its lawyer and has contended that the action by ACC amounts to threats against a lawyer and amounts to contempt of court.
In a letter to the President of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) dated 20th June, 2023, Makebi Zulu Advocates said the matter is active before Magistrate, Hon. Ngobola.
The law firm has stated that documents of declaration of interest written to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence and others have been questioned by the ACC. It has contended that the documents that have been submitted before court must be subjected to question in court.
It stated that the documents that have excited the ACC are before the proceedings of the Court. It also stated that it is grossly unfair to single-out Mr. Zimba when Hon. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has a team of lawyers representing him that include; Mr Bonaventure Mutale SC, Mr. Jonas Zimba, Mr. Charles Changano, Mr. Kaunda and Mr. Mwila.
It stated that the action against Mr. Jonas Zimba are therefore designed to embarrass, intimidate and harrass him without cause and instead of the ACC prosecutors fighting the case in court they have resorted to fight the case outside court.
These actions, it further stated, by the ACC must be be stopped as doing otherwise would promote lawlessness and contempt to the court.
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