Trial involving PROTUZ bigwigs fails to take off

TRIAL has failed to continue in a case in which Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) president, general secretary and deputy general secretary are facing seven counts of uttering false Grade 12 certificates to the ministry of Education to gain employment.

In this matter, Vincent Kabimba Mwitumwa, Kangwa Musenga and Treegain Rhodah Ng’uni Kansembe pleaded not guilty to uttering false documents, obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences, aiding and abetting an offence and unlawful action or proceedings against a whistleblower.

When the matter came up for commencement of trial, state prosecutor Edwin Mbewe informed the court that the state was ready to commence with the matter but the defence said they were not ready because two of the accused persons needed to be represented by lawyers and were asking for an adjournment.

It is alleged that Kansembe, the Deputy General Secretary between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2018 in Lusaka being a person employed in the Public Service by the Teaching Council of Zambia as a teacher at Mumana Primary School, did by false pretences dishonestly obtaining salaries amounting to K498, 192.4 purporting that she possessed a genuine Grade 12 certificate index no. 0101607 and qualified to be employed as a teacher in the Ministry of Education when in fact not.

It is also alleged that Kansembe between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020 in Lusaka being a person holding office as deputy general Secretary for Finance in PROTUZ, did by false pretences dishonestly obtain salaries and allowances amounting to K1, 003, 153, 41, purporting that she possessed the requisite qualifications for secondment to PROTUZ when in fact not.

The court set October 26, 2022 for commencement of trial.