Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) director Hope Ndhlovu Chanda has pleaded not guilty to two counts of corrupt acquisition of public property, involving over K120,000 in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.

And senior resident magistrate Greenwell Malumani has set August 27, 2018, for commencement of trial.

Chanda, aged 42, of plot number 7144/m, Lusaka West in Lusaka, was arrested and charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission earlier this month for corrupt practices involving over K120,000 but was released from police custody on bond.

In count one, Chanda is alleged to have on dates unknown but between June 1, 2016 and June 32, 2017 in Lusaka willfully failed to comply with laid down procedure by awarding a contract in the sum of K60,000 to Chipo Mushota Nkhata for consultancy work in the Law Reform Audit (constitutional conformity), a matter or transaction which involved the Zambia Law Development Commission, a public body.

And in count two, it is alleged that Chanda on dates unknown but between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2016, in Lusaka willfully failed to comply with laid down procedure by awarding a contract in the sum of K61,306.00 to Vinnid Innovations to provide catering services for the Gender-based Violence Fast Courts launch, a matter or transaction which involved the ZLDC, a public body.

When the matter came up for plea before magistrate Malumani, Monday, Chanda denied committing the offences as per the instruction of her lawyer, Kapamba Kombe.

The court had earlier allowed the Anti-Corruption Commission prosecution to amend particulars of the first count from reading as ‘Mushoata’ to ‘Mushota’.

The matter has since been adjourned to August 27, 2018, for commencement of trial.