THE KABWE HIGH COURT RESERVES RULING
….on the bail pending appeal & review the arson conviction in the case involving Hon Chitotela, Hon Chilangwa & four others
Kabwe… Thursday September 12, 2024 (SMART EAGLES)
The Kabwe High Court has reserved it’s ruling on two applications made by lawyers representing incarcerated Kawambwa Central PF Member of Parliament Hon Nickson Chilangwa and his Pambashe counterpart Hon Ronald Chitotela and four others.
The two applications are bail pending appeal and the review of the arson conviction.
Defense Lawyer Counsel Benjamin Mwelwa informed the PF sympathizers who had gathered at the Kabwe High Court grounds to offer solidarity to their leaders that the ruling for the bail pending appeal is coming up on the 20th September, 2024.
Counsel Mwelwa further informed the sympathizers that the review of the arson conviction will come up during the October criminal session.
“Today we came up for two applications… One is bail pending appeal and the second one is to review the arson conviction. So both applications came up today, and we argued both applications and the ruling has been reserved by the court. For the bail, its coming up next week on the 20th September, 2024. That is when we are going to know whether we will be granted bail or not,” he said.
“To review the conviction, the State did not file the opposition, but we argued our matter and they asked the court to allow them file the opposition which was done. And we have been given seven days within which they should file their opposition. And we have been seven days thereafter to file our reply.”
He said by next week, the nation will know whether they will be given the bail or not.
“So the Judge has said he is going deliver the ruling during the criminal session in October. So we are coming back here for the review of the conviction in October. Next week we will know how we are going to proceed with the bail,” he added.
“In October we are going to know whether the conviction will be sustained. If the conviction is sustained, then the court will proceed to sentence those people who are convicted for arson, if not, then we maybe lack that they are acquitted.”
Other people convicted include Kawambwa Council Chairperson Chifumbe Kalumba, Davy Kaniki, Chabu Chitotela and Kunda Chitotela.
And Patriotic Front Vice President Hon Given Lubinda led PF Members of Parliament, party officials and other sympathizers to offer solidarity to the incarcerated leaders.
Other PF leaders who were present included PF Secretary General Hon Raphael Nakachinda, Mporokoso PF MP Hon Brian Mundubile, former Home Affairs Minister (Shiwang’andu MP) Hon Stephen Kampyongo, former Transport and Communications Minister (Lunte MP) Hon Mutotwe Kamfwaya, former Mines Minister Hon Richard Musukwa and Luapula Constituency PF MP Eng Chanda Katotobwe.
The PF Central Provincial leadership was led by Provincial Chairperson Billy Sichamba and Kabwe Mayor Patrick Chishala.
#SmartEagles2024