High Court acquits Muhanga of interfering with course of justice

By GRACE CHAILE

THE Lusaka High Court has cleared Evans Muhanga, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, of interfering with the course of justice in the Nyampala Hunting block case.
Judge Situmbeko Chocho found that the applicant, Shekela Safaris, failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove that Muhanga had breached the court’s order.
The case centred on allegations that Mr Muhanga had disobeyed a court order by awarding the Nyampala hunting block to Kumawa Safaris.
However, the court found that the applicant’s evidence was largely based on hearsay and speculation.
In her judgement, Judge Chocho noted that the applicant’s witness, Denilson Kamayoyo Mukengani, was unsure of his testimony and had no personal knowledge of the events in question.
On the other hand, Mr Muhanga testified that no hunting concession had been issued for the Nyampala hunting block, and that the area had remained empty since the court’s order.
The court ultimately ruled that Mr Muhanga was not in contempt of court and that the applicant had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“I make a further order that the status quo be maintained and the decision of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism to re-tender the Nyampala Hunting Block and all subsequent decisions be or are stayed pending the full determination of this matter or until further direction of this court,” Judge Chocho ordered.
The matter has been adjourned to December 2, 2024, for further hearing