The State yesterday admitted in court that it has failed to
locate and extradite fugitive former Tourism minister Walter Mzembi, who is
facing charges of criminal abuse of office.
Mzembi was being charged together with then permanent
secretary Margaret Sangarwe and on another docket with Aaron Mushoriwa and
Sussana Makombe.
The State had requested two months to organise Mzembi’s
extradition, saying the process was long, but nothing has materialised yet.
Prosecutor Brian Vito yesterday told the court that they
are now pursuing another option of separating Mzembi’s dockets with other
accused persons for the
trial to proceed.
“We have challenges in securing the attendance of Walter
Mzembi who is a fugitive from justice. We have now decided to separate the
dockets for the trial to
continue. We are seeking for the postponement of the matter
to September 5 for trial,” Vito said.
Presiding magistrate Hosea Mujaya then postponed the matter
to September 5 for trial.
The State had indicated that they believe Mzembi was holed
up in South Africa.
Addressing the court, Vito said they were unable to proceed
to trial without the former minister and have made processes to extradite him
from South Africa
where he is believed to be hold up.
“We cannot withdraw the charges of the co-accused before
plea because the accused persons will disappear. We are asking for a long
remand so that we do the
process which takes long,” Vito told the court at the last
remand.
Mzembi’s lawyer Job Sikhala, however, defended his client,
saying he was critically ill and unable to travel for the court.
Sikhala also said a video which was circulating on social
media, showing Mzembi fit, was taken in 2016 in his office while still a
minister. Newsday
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