A witness has told the Lusaka High Court that Transparency International Zambia, TIZ, as an organization made consideration for campaigning with the opposition as part of services to reach out to citizens.
Isaac Mundia an accountant at TIZ was testifying in a matter where his organization sued freelance journalist Chanda Chimba, III for defamation over a Stand Up For Zambia episode entitled “Holier Than Thou” aired in 2010 on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, ZNBC, television.
The civil matter came up for continued hearing in open court Wednesday February 12, 2014 before judge Mubanga Kondolo and commenced at 15:35 local time.
Mundia who is the plaintiff’s first witness was on the stand for cross-examination by the respondent’s lawyer Major Charles Litsita told judge Kondolo that TIZ strives for “citizens to have better services due to them corruption free and that these services are delivered the time a citizen seeks them”.
Asked by Lisita if TIZ would consider campaigning with the opposition as part of the services Mundia responded, “I don’t remember testifying like that”. He was however reminded by Lisita that he was under cross-examination and needed to answer.
It took Judge Kondolo’s guidance for Mundia who was trying in futility to be a difficult witness to answer, “If the opposition is also advocating better services, I would say yes because we are all advocating for the same”.
In his testimony, Mundia also told the court that TIZ activities cover the entire country even though the office is only in Lusaka.
He said wherever there is ZNBC radio and television coverage TIZ is also there including areas like Sinjembela. He further testified that he is not aware that there are areas where ZNBC does not reach.
Mundia also told Judge Kondolo that it is possible for TIZ to hold workshops at its office premises.
In 2010 TIZ sued Chimba for defamation alleging that he had defamed the institution for asking among other things if the organization had presence in other parts of the country and saying that the organization was working with the Patriotic Front to champion Fr Bwalya’s Red Card campaign against the MMD government and that civil society organizations hold workshops and seminars in lodges and hotels.
TIZ is represented by Musa Mwenye and Co. and the matter has been adjourned to June 19 and 26, 2014 for continued hearing with Mundia still on the stand for cross examination.
The adjournment was prompted by the fact that the lawyer for the plaintiff Captain Choka wants more time to go through some documents Chimba’s lawyer wants to produce in court.
This is a copy of a newspaper advert on the Buchi Declaration by Fr. Bwalya’s Change Life Zambia Red Card campaign which shows TIZ being part of the declaration.
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