By SYLVIA MWEETWA –
THE Kabwe Municipal Council has suspended a councillor who is appearing in court for alleged illegal land allocation.
The full council meeting has resolved to suspend Waya Ward councillor Edward Lungu for six months with immediate effect.
Kabwe Mayor Richard Bango, who confirmed the development in Kabwe, said the move to suspend the Patriotic front (PF) councillor follows an emergency council meeting, which was convened after concerns were raised over the matter.
Mr Bango said the move to suspend Lungu was aimed at paving way for investigations and for the law to take its course.
“I want to confirm that the full emergency council meeting, which was called to discuss the recent arrest of a councillor, who is appearing before the courts, has resolved to suspend the councillor,” he said.
He said the suspension did not mean that he was guilty but that the council was following the guidelines and conduct expected of a councillor.
But in a turn of events, the Kabwe Magistrates Court yesterday discharged the councillor after state prosecutors applied to the court to withdraw the matter under section 88 of the Criminal procedure code, to allow them reorganise themselves.
The court discharged Lungu, whose was jointly charged with another person, but warned the two that it was not an acquittal and that the State could re-arrest them.
