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Tembo case August 2
By
Gedion Munthali - 18-07-2002 |
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The High Court in Blantyre has shifted the date to start hearing a contempt of court case against MCP vice president John Tembo and two others from July 26 to August 2 at Tembo’s request.
The two others are MCP secretary general Kate Kainja and Central Region chair Betson Majoni.
MCP publicity secretary Nicholas Dausi said in an interview on Tuesday the party’s president Gwanda Chakuamba, who is the complainant in the matter, was told about the change by his lawyer Bazuka Mhango.
Tembo’s lawyer, Kalekeni Kaphale, said earlier this week the date was shifted because on July 26 his client has a medical appointment outside the country.
“The other reason was because the accused persons were served the documents (by advertising) when Parliament was still sitting and there wasn’t enough time for them [the accused persons] to consult with the lawyers and prepare affidavits in opposition,” said Kaphale.
“We therefore requested Bazuka and Company that time should start running after the sitting of Parliament,” he added.
Kaphale also said he had not yet received a reply from his counterpart. However, Dausi said Mhango told Chakuamba that the date was moved to August 2.
He explained that Chakuamba and his lawyer were agreeable to the change of date to allow Tembo meet his doctors in South Africa “because it is a fundamental human right for any individual to have access to medical attention any time he or she needs it.”
Dausi said Chakuamba and Mhango were not told what Tembo was suffering from “because it is a private matter, and we cannot insist to know since we will be deemed to be violating somebody’s right to privacy”.
“Although the case will be argued by lawyers, his presence during the case is important because there may be other instructions which he might need to give to his lawyer as the case unfolds,” said Dausi. |
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