Ex-minister Lubinda appears in court, pleads not guilty to being in possession of diplomatic passports

Former Minister of Justice in the Patriotic Front (PF) government, Given Lubinda, has pleaded not guilty on failure to surrender a diplomatic passport at the nearest immigration office and holding more than one passport.

Lubinda, also PF vice president, appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate, Kawama Mwanfuli, on Monday.

He is accused of failure to surrender diplomatic passport contrary to Section 21(1) and (2) of the the Passport Act No. 28 of 2016 of the Laws of Zambia.

Read more: Court frees Lubinda, Patriotic Front vice president, for breach of parliamentary privileges

It was alleged that Lubinda between January 1 and October 26, without reasonable excuse, failed or refused to submit or surpender a Diplomatic Passport number ZN873367 to the Chief Passports and Citizenship Officer when required to do so.

The politician was also accused of holding more than one passport contrary to Section 22(1)read with 22(2) of the Republican laws.

Facts are that between January 1 and October 26, 2023, Lubinda without reasonable excuse, did hold one to two Diplomatic Pasports numbers ZN873367 and ZN943878.

Trial commences on February 22, 2024.

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