Religious Affairs minister Godfridah Sumaili has pleaded not guilty to a charge of contempt of court. 

And the state has taken over the prosecution of the matter. 

This is in a matter in which  UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has asked the court to cite  Reverend Sumaili for contempt of court over remarks  attributed to  her that he was arrested because he pushed President Edgar Lungu to the wall by not recognising his presidency. 

When the  case came up, one of HH’s lawyers Zevyanji Sinkala told senior resident magistrate Ireen Wishimanga that the defense had withdrawn an application objecting to the taking over of the prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions. 

State advocate Chimbeka Sakala from the National Prosecutions Authority was present in court and took over the prosecution.

The case has been adjourned to September 25, 2017 for trial.