POLITICIAN Chishimba Kambwili has lost a land-related case in the Court of Appeal, which has ruled in favour of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Registered Trustees.
A three-member panel dismissed Mr Kambwili’s cross appeal where he was challenging the High Court’s decision to pass a judgment in favour of the UCZ Registered Trustees.
The court also reversed the August 31, 2022 lower court’s decision not to grant costs in favour of UCZ Registered Trustees over a court case involving land in Chingola.
“We find that the lower court’s decision to make no order as to costs was not justifiable and the learned judge failed to give reasons for departing from the general principle that costs should follow the event,” the verdict reads in part.
The case involves land owned by Mr Kambwili’s late uncle, Robson Chishimba Lumbwe, a former member of UCZ.
The court heard that in 1984, Mr Lumbwe applied to Chingola District Council for an extension of his Lot 47.
But in 1993, Mr Lumbwe died and UCZ applied for a church plot, which was approved the same year, and in 1999 a recommendation by the council was authored to the Commissioner of Lands.
The church was later given a certificate of title. But in 2013, Mr Kambwili applied for its cancellation.