Ex-road agency boss, Banda, asks court to dismiss case seeking to tamper with his K800,000 benefits

Former Chief Executive Officer, Gladwell Banda, has filed a counterclaim against Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), asking the High Court to dismiss the matter where the latter wants more than K88,000 deducted from his terminal benefits.

In a defence and counterclaim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Banda is seeking an order to have the case commenced against him by the Agency dismissed for abuse of court process.

In this matter, RTSA sued the defendant for alleged failure to retire imprest in the sum of K88,867.20 and wants the said amount deducted from his terminal benefits.

RTSA alleged that Banda, between July 9, 2020 and December 12, 2021, undertook a number of trips outside Lusaka district.

RTSA established at the National Road Fund Agency tolling information regarding the movement of the vehicle the defendant was using, a Toyata land cruiser registration No. BAP 6882, he owed the Agency K88,867.20 in unretired imprest.

Banda in defence said he was cleared by the plaintiff of any liabilities at the time of being dismissed.

“The defendant will aver at trial that on May 10, 2023, the plaintiff was authorized to deduct the disputed amount of K88,867.20 for the sake of making progress and bringing closure to litigation as a compromise under cause no.2022/hp/1636 .

“This was to be done by consent summons and consent orders to vary the consent settlement order of April 26, 2023 but the plaintiff has failed or refused to execute the said application to vary the consent settlement order and the plaintiff shall be put to strict proof thereof,” he contended.

He told the Court that he used different Agency motor vehicles and therefore his trips were not limited to use of BAP 6882 and this dependent on the nature of the assignment.

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