KABANSHI JUDGEMENT DEFERRED

By CHARLES MUSONDA THE Lusaka Magistrates Court has adjourned to this Thursday judgement in a case former Community Development Minister Emmerine Kabanshi has been put on her defence for alleged wilful failure to comply with the law relating to procurement. High Court Judge Lameck Mwale, who sits as Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate in the matter, had set yesterday as judgement day but adjourned the verdict on grounds that it was not ready. Kabanshi, who is also Luapula member of Parliament is facing two counts of wilful failure to comply with the law, applicable procedure or guidelines relating to procurement.  In the first count it is alleged that between January 1 and August 21, 2017, Kabanshi, being Community Development and Social Services minister, wilfully failed to comply with the law, applicable procedure or guideline by extending the scope of coverage of contract number MCDSS/SP/10/2017 between Zambia Postal Services Corporation (Zampost) and the ministry to include three provinces and two districts under the social cash transfer programme.   In count two particulars of offence are that between August 21, 2017 and April 26, 2018, Kabanshi wilfully failed to comply with the law, applicable procedure or guidelines relating to procurement by re-engaging Zampost as the service provider under contract number MCDSS/10/2017 for the social cash transfer programme following termination of the said contract.