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The State has entered a Nolle Prosequi in a matter where former Permanent Secretary for Administration at Cabinet office Anna Mwewa was charged with seven counts of abuse of authority of office.
The state entered a Nolle Prosequi due to inconsistencies in the evidence that was presented by its witnesses.
In entering the Nolle Prosequi State Prosecutor Boniface Chiwala requested Chief resident Magistrate Penjani Lamba who was handling the matter that the case be discontinued to allow the prosecution team seek guidance from the Director of Public Prosecution
-DPP.
This was in view of the contradicting evidence emerging in the prosecution case, particularly in the issue of ratification of things done without due authority.
Mr. Chiwala added that the prosecution team may seek another date of continued trial after the consultations as the court cannot continue sitting with the emerging contradictions in the evidence.
Earlier Copperbelt Deputy Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga testified before Judge Lamba that the preparation of the national independence celebrations and the investiture ceremony held on October24, 2013 was an emergence which could have not been successfully prepared if procurement procures were followed to the latter.
Mr. Kamanga testified that it was normal not to follow the procurement procedures fully when handling emergency cases such as accidents and natural disasters among others as such things get to be ratified later.
He further stated that the decisions that were made on procurement of services for the independence celebrations were not made by Ms Mwewa alone but collectively made by the state functions organizing committees which is an inter-ministerial committee comprising of officers from Cabinet office, State House and different ministries.
Mr. Kamanga admitted that the ceremony went on successfully although the institutions that provided food have not yet been paid.
Particulars of the matter are that Anna Mwewa on dates but between January 1 and December 31, 2013, in the Kitwe District jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown , abused the authority of her office in count one, when she awarded a c
ntract worth K888,374 to Rolly’z Catering Services without following the laid down procedures.
Ms Mwewa was alleged to have awarded contracts to supply catering services to six other caterings institutions namely, Hotels Board of Management, Nobutula Lodge, Sherbourne Farms, Rosewood, Vogue Afrique and Hotels Edinburgh.
And speaking to ZANIS after the case was discharged, Ms Mwewa said she gives glory to God for her vindication because people thought the money went into her pockets.
