By 
Former Lusaka Province Minister, Bowman Lusambo, will learn his fate on August 22, 2025, in a case where he stands accused of possessing properties suspected to be proceeds of crime, including a luxurious residence in Lusaka’s Chamba Valley.
Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili set the date for judgment on Wednesday, bringing the protracted trial closer to conclusion.
During the latest court session, Magistrate Chibwili also delivered a ruling on an application by the State, dismissing its request to introduce additional evidence in rebuttal.
The prosecution had invoked Section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), arguing that Lusambo introduced a new issue in his defence—specifically, a claim that government had constructed the tarred driveway on his property—which they said they could not have reasonably anticipated.
However, Magistrate Chibwili ruled that the driveway issue should have been part of the initial investigation and did not qualify as a surprise claim under the law.
“Having regard to the above guidance, it is my considered view that the issue of who constructed the driveway on the accused’s property has not arisen ex improviso, but is something that was—or should have been—part of the whole investigation,” Magistrate Chibwili stated. “The application by the State is accordingly declined.”
The magistrate further noted that Section 210 could not be used to plug investigative gaps or simply discredit a witness.
Lusambo, who served as Lusaka Province Minister under the Patriotic Front (PF) administration, is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for corruption at Mwembeshi Maximum Security Correctional Facility.
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