By 
Lusaka magistrate Trevor Kasanda has set March 23, 2023 as date to rule on whether or not former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has a case to answer.
This is in a matter in which Lusambo is allegedly facing three counts of attempting to interfere with a witness.
On Tuesday, the prosecution team closed its prosecution’s case in which they produced more than five witnesses.
In this matter, Lusambo pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to interfere with a witness contrary to Section 112 (1) (b) as read with section 389 (1) of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Previously, Cosmas Kapula Chalusa, Ernest Sumani and Mundia Mataa who are key witnesses in the matter testified before the court that Lusambo approached them at the Lusaka magistrate court premises and said they were family and anti corruption commission(ACC) should not separate them.
“Around 09:00hours I was seated with my other witnesses namely, Harry Shamenda, Ernest Sumani, and Mundia Maata out side the court and while seated Lusambo was also coming towards where we were seated, he approached were we were and told us that “these things they have called me for here, you are wasting your time, you are innocent people, these are politics, leave politics to us” then he proceeded,” Chalusa said.
But when asked in cross examination, Chalusa said he testified without any disturbances from Lusambo.
Further, an arresting officer at ACC Mulenga Mulenga testified before the court how he established that Lusambo had knowledge of who the witnesses where but he went ahead to talk to them.
Mulenga also established that on April 7, 2022 Mr Lusambo did endeavor to dissuade or prevent witnesses to testify in the matter he is charged with ten counts of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime before magistrate Faides Hamaundu.
But when asked by one of the defense Lawyers Makebi Zulu if Lusambo dissuaded the witnesses from testifying before magistrate Hamaundu, Mulenga said all the witnesses testified.
“Did Lusambo dissuade any witnesses from testifying? all witnesses testified,” he responded.
Zulu further asked if attempting to interfare and interfering with witnesses means the same, Mulenga took a deep breath and said No.
Mulenga explained that attempting to interfere did not mean interfering, it maybe successful or unsuccessful.
It is alleged in count one that Lusambo on a date unknown but between February 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022 in Lusaka with intent to obstruct the due course of justice did endeavour to dissuade or prevent Cosmas Kapula Chalusa to give evidence as a witness before a court of law.
Allegations in count two and three are that Lusambo between April 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022 in Lusaka did endeavour to dissuade or prevent Ernest Sumani and Mundia Mataa to give evidence as witnesses before a court of law.
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