Nchito calls 30 witnesses as tribunal resumes

THE Annel Silungwe Tribunal yesterday resumed sitting with suspended Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito, who is under investigations, indicating that he will call 30 witnesses to defend him.

The tribunal resumed after a two-week adjournment following an application by Mr Nchito to allow him time to prepare.
The State concluded its submissions about two weeks ago after which Mr Nchito requested for an adjournment to allow him prepare his witnesses as part of his submissions.

This is expected to be the last stage of the hearing before the Annel Silugwe-led tribunal makes recommendations over the allegations that Mr Nchito, SC, abused his authority as DPP in his operations.
Mr Nchito has been without legal representation at the tribunal after his brother, Nchima Nchito, withdrew together with the entire Nchito and Nchito advocates from the proceedings.
Sources have revealed to the Daily Nation that Mr Nchito has named 30 witnesses to appear before the tribunal in his defence.

The State closed its case at the tribunal on March 9, 2016 and only resumed yesterday on its final duration before it makes recommendations of its findings to the President who is the appointing authority.
Last year, President Edgar Lungu appointed the tribunal to probe allegations of abuse of authority of office into the conduct of the DPP, and was subsequently placed on suspension.
But Mr Nchito commenced court proceedings with the intencion to nullify the tribunal and its operatives, claiming persecution.

But the Supreme Court in February 2016 ruled in favour of the proceedings going ahead and probe Mr Nchito. Again Mr Nchito applied through the High Court for judicial review to act as a stay following an application at the Constitutional Court against the proceedings of the same tribunal, but High Court Justice Petronnela Ngulube dismissed it.

Ms Justice Ngulube threw out the application citing the defendant for “forum shopping” following several applications being made over the same matter in different courts, all against the Supreme Court Ruling that gave mandate to the tribunal’s existence.

Zambia Daily Mail