The High Court has granted leave to State Counsel Musa Mwenye to apply for the committal to prison of Kankoyo member of Parliament Heartson Mabeta for alleging that Mwenye sought to improperly receive US$3 million from Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).
An ex-parte order granting Mwenye leave to commence contempt proceedings, signed by the Honorable Mr. Justice Charles Kafunda states that Mwenye may proceed with an action against Mabeta for publishing on his Facebook page on July 21 that High Court Judge Kafunda was intimidated by Mwenye into ordering KCM, which was under provisional liquidation at the time, to pay another company – Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc – US$33 million so that Mwenye could receive US$3 million but was defeated by Mabeta.
CEC supplied electricity to KCM and was owed millions of dollars in unpaid bills. It had taken the matter to court and was represented by Mwenye.
Mabeta made this allegation shortly after Mwenye wrote scathingly of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the government’s fight against corruption during his experience as ACC board chairman days after President Hichilema dissolved the board.
A day after Mabeta’s publication, Mwenye demanded a retraction and apology but Mabeta curtly responded that they’d meet in court.
