Court adjourns GBM’s case

THE Lusaka High Court has adjourned to May 6, 2014 the inter-parte hearing of a case in which Kasama Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, has challenged the Patriotic Front (PF)’s decision to suspend and expel him.
Judge Annie Sharpe-Phiri adjourned the case on Tuesday after lawyers from AD Mumba and Company representing the PF informed the court that their client was not ready to proceed with the hearing.
The lawyer told the court in chambers that he was still waiting for instructions from his client.
The case was scheduled for inter-parte hearing on whether or not to lift the ex-parte injunction granted to Mr Mwamba by the court restraining the party from expelling him pending determination of the main case.
The PF in Northern Province recommended to the party central committee that Mr Mwamba, who is a former Defence minister, be expelled from the party for alleged indiscipline and insubordination.
But Mr Mwamba challenged the decision in the Lusaka High Court and sought immediate remedy for the party not to expel him until the final determination of his case.
He stated in his affidavit that no formal charges of any purported misconduct had been preferred against him.
He said that his suspension and expulsion from the PF was null and void because the procedure was not followed in expelling him as he was allegedly not given an opportunity to be heard.
In granting Mr Mwamba the injunction, Ms Justice Phiri said the Kasama lawmaker was not given an opportunity to be heard.

Times of Zambia