Kabanshi pleads not guilty

By Staff Reporter
FORMER Community Development and Social Services minister Emerine Kabanshi has pleaded not guilty to two counts of willful failure to comply with the law relating to the engagement of Zampost and also procurement of a contract involving the Social Cash Transfer program.
Taking plea before chief resident magistrate Lameck Mwale this morning, Kabanshi, 54, who is Luapula constituency PF member of parliament in Lunga district, denied committing the offences alleged.
It is alleged in the first count that Kabanshi between January 1, 2017 and August 21, 2017 at Lusaka being a minister in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services wilfully failed to comply with the law, applicable procedure or guidelines relating to procurement in engaging Zampost as a payment service provider for the Social Cash Transfer program.
In count two, allegations are that Kabanshi between August 21,  2017 and April 26, 2018 at Lusaka, being a minister in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services did willfully fail to comply with the law applicable procedure or guideline relating to procurement in amending the contract between the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and Zampost for the Social Cash Transfer program.
Kabanshi pleaded not guilty as per instructions from her lawyers Jonas Zimba and Katindo Mwale.
Magistrate Mwale has set August 13 for commencement of trial.