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The Commissioner of Lands Barnaby Mulenga has testified in the Lusaka Magistrate Court in a matter involving a 43 year old Mtendere resident who was also possession of different implements of forgery.
In this case, Mwila Lombamo is charged with two counts of forgery contrary to section 342 and 347 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia and possession of implements of forgery contrary 351 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia the Laws of Zambia.
In count one it alleged that Lombamo on January 23, 2014 jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown people with intent to defraud or deceive did forge title deeds No. 12679/5,2303/5 and 3820 purporting to show that they were genuinely issued and signed at the Ministry of Lands when in fact not.
In the second count, it is alleged that the accused on January 23,2014 had in possession implements for forgery namely two ribbons, 14 stamps, 4 red seals and one paper riveter without lawful authority.
Mr. Mulenga testified before Principal Resident Magistrate Obbister Musukwa that the date stamps and certificates of title in question which were presented to him by Police officers from Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Police Post for verification for being purported to belong to his office, were not from the Ministry of Lands.
The witness testified that the certificate of title which were being purported to have been issued by a Sharon Mbewe as Commissioner of Lands was not a genuine document from the Ministry of Lands as because there has never been Commissioner of Lands bearing that name in the history of the ministry.
He said the name on the certificates of title Sharon Mbewe Shuni was an assistant in his office who witnesses when he appends his signature on certificates of title.
He further said the practice was that if someone signs a document in his absence ,it was properly indicated that such a person was acting in his capacity.
The witness further said despite one of the date stamps in question bearing his name, it was not a geunine one saying the stamps they use at his office were differently designed and the court of arms was also positioned differently.
‘In the four years I have worked as commissioner of Lands, we have never had a report of stamps going missing, in short these are not our stamps,”he said.
And testifying in the same matter, a Chief Registrar at the Ministry of Lands Lynn Siyanziba said although some of the stamps in question were similar to the ones in her office,they were differently designed compared those from the ministry.
The witness told the court that the stamp which was depicting her name was also different from the one she uses at the ministry saying the one in court had a bigger font adding that quality of the stamps in question were also of sub standard compared to the ones they use at the ministry.
The matter has since been adjourned to May 19, 2014 for continuation of trial.
