PIA bosses deny abuse charges

By CHARLES MUSONDAPENSIONS and Insurance Authority (PIA) Registrar Christopher Mapani and his two co-accused have pleaded not guilty to two counts of abuse of authority of office.Mapani, 44, of 393/35 Meanwood Airport, has been jointly charged with insurance regulator Nicholas Mbiya, 50, of 141, Ngwerere Avenue, Chelstone, and financial sector registrar Titus Nkhwale, 45, of 25731, Woodlands all in Lusaka.Particulars of offence in the first count are that between January 1, 2018 and March 30, 2020 in Lusaka, the three jointly and whilst acting together as public officers directly or indirectly abused their position, office, or authority by approving Tobias Milambo as the principal officer for Ultimate InsuranceCompany, an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights or interests of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) or any other person.In the second count particulars of offence are that between the same dates the three accused persons jointly and whilst acting together abused authority of their office by issuing a 2020 insurers’ licence to Ultimate Insurance Company Limited an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights or interest of GRZ or any other person.The three denied the charges before Lusaka Magistrate Felix Kaoma yesterday after the Director of Public Prosecutions gave consent to prosecute them.Mr. Kaoma has set June 15, 2020 as the date for commencement of trial.