THE Lusaka Magistrates Court has granted United Party for National Development vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) a one-month adjournment to enable him undergo surgery abroad.

There has been speculation on GBM’s whereabouts of treason-accused Hakainde Hichilema’s vice, with many branding him a coward for his absence during such a critical time.

But when his case of proposing violence against President Edgar Lungu came up for trial on Monday, GBM’s lawyer Zevyanji Sinkala asked the court to adjourn the matter because his client was about to undergo an operation abroad and he needed about two months to recover.

“Your honour, we are asking for an adjournment due to the fact that the accused person in this matter is unwell and will soon be undergoing an operation. We are equally desirous to have the matter take off,” Sinkala said.

But the state, through Zalila Sakala objected saying there was no proof before the court to show that GBM was really sick.

Magistrate Tandose Chabala then asked the defense to provide a medical report to prove their claims.

GBM’s lawyer then produced the medical report after the matter was stood down for about five minutes.

But magistrate Chabala only granted the defense a one-month adjournment instead of the two-month adjournment they had asked for.

“I have taken into account the submissions by both parties. I have seen the medical report and it shows that it was issued on April 19, 2017, and that the accused person is unwell. I hereby adjourn the matter to 30th June for trial,” said magistrate Chabala.

According to a medical report, issued at CFB Medical Centre, the hospital GBM had a knee complication for which he was advised to undergo surgery.