MONGU HIGH COURT JUDGE APPEARS BEFORE MAGISTRATE IN A CASE FOR TRANSFERRING LAND TITLE
MONGU High Court judge-in-charge Wilfred Muma yesterday appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court in a case he is accused of transferring the title involving Zambia Army property in Lusaka to Patriotic Front (PF), which wanted to use it as party offices.
Judge Muma appeared before Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili facing two counts of abuse of authority of office and wilful failure to comply with the law and applicable procedure.
The alleged failure to follow the law and procedure relates to allocation and disposal of public property.
Between April 1, and December 31, 2018, Judge Muma, being commissioner of lands, the judge allegedly failed to comply with the law, namely section 84(1) of the Lands and Deeds Registry Act Chapter 185 of the Laws of Zambia.
This was after the adjudicator allegedly instructed his subordinates to cancel certificate title number 21818 relating to public property number Lusak/LN without following the law and applicable procedure.
Allegations in the second count are that between the same dates, the accused, being a public officer, as commissioner of lands, abused his office by requesting the army commander to surrender a certificate of title in respect of property number Lusak/LN-8426/1.
The accused also abused his office when he allegedly offered the same land to the PF party, an act arbitrary and prejudicial to the interest of the Zambian Government.
Magistrate Chibwili allocated the case to Magistrate Trevor Kasanda.
The 58-year-old adjudicator then appeared before magistrate Kasanda where the charges were explained to him.
But the accused could, however, not take plea because the Director of Public Prosecutions is yet to give consent to have him prosecuted.
The case will come up Friday next week for possible plea.