Former Minister of Community Development and Social Services Emerine Kabanshi yesterday appeared before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.
Kabanshi appeared before Lusaka Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale but her case was however not called because the indictment and Prosecutors from the Drug Enforcement Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission were not before court.
She was accompanied by her lawyers among them, Jonas Zimba from Makebi Zulu Advocates.
Kabanshi will again appear in court next week.
Last month, the Joint Investigations Team comprising the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Kabanshi, for abuse of authority of office.
According to a statement issued by DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo, Kabanshi allegedly abused her authority of office by unduly influencing the engagement of ZAMPOST as payment service provider under the Social Cash Transfer Programme.
“Particulars of the offence are that Honourable Emerine Kabanshi, in her official capacity as Minister of Community Development and Social Services, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between 1st January, 2017 and 21st August, 2017, in Lusaka did abuse her authority of office by unduly influencing the engagement of Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST) as payment service provider under the Social Cash Transfer Programme, an act prejudicial to the interests of the Government of the Republic of Zambia and beneficiaries under the Social Cash Transfer Programme,” she stated.
Katongo stated that Kabanshi further abused her authority of office by directing the extension of the ZAMPOST scope of works under the Social Cash Transfer Programme to include areas which were not covered in the initial contract.
“Additionally, Honourable Kabanshi, on dates unknown but between August 21, 2017 and April 26, 2018, in her official capacity as Minister of Community Development and Social Services did abuse her authority of office by directing the extension of the Zambia Postal Services Corporation scope of works under the Social Cash Transfer Programme to include areas which were not covered in the initial contract,” she stated.
