Kambwili’s Lawyers Lodge Appeal Against High Court Conviction

Lawyers for National Democratic Congress (NDC) president Chishimba Kambwili have successfully lodged an appeal against the opposition leader’s recent sentence at the Lusaka High Court.

A bail hearing prior to Kambwili’s appeal has been set for next Monday at 10:00.

The NDC president was sentenced to one year imprisonment on October 14 by Lusaka Magistrate David Simusamba.

The conviction relates to alleged fraud committed by Kambwili in 2013, when he submitted a No Change Return form he claimed was signed by son, Mwamba. 

He was subsequently charged with uttering a false document and giving false information to a public officer, however he was acquitted on the latter of these. 

Defenders of Kambwili, including MMD Nevers Mumba, have dismissed the charges as political persecution by the PF government. 

Kambwili’s lawyers have filed an appeal against magistrate Simusamba, saying the justice should have recused himself from the case given the history between himself and the defendant. Magistrate Simusamba has in the past accused Kambwili of attempting to bribe him and sued the opposition leader for defamation of character.

The defence claims that Simusamba cut their time short and ignored evidence regarding the existence and identity of Mwamba Chishimba, Kambwili’s son.