COURT ADJOURNS LIVINGSTONE MAYOR’S JUDGMENT TO FEBRUARY 2.
COURT ADJOURNS LIVINGSTONE MAYOR’S JUDGMENT TO FEBRUARY 2.
The Livingstone Magistrate Court has once again adjourned the delivery of judgment in the corruption case involving Livingstone Mayor, Constance Muleabai, now set for February 2, 2026.
The long-awaited judgment failed to take place after Senior Resident Magistrate Trevor Kasanda was unable to travel to Livingstone to preside over the ruling. This marks another delay in a matter that has drawn significant public attention.
Previously, the case had been adjourned under Resident Magistrate Kalifano Manyepa, who facilitated today’s scheduled judgment date, raising expectations that the matter would finally be concluded.
Mayor Muleabai has been standing trial over allegations of corrupt practices involving K180,000. The State alleges that between August 1 and September 30, 2023, she corruptly solicited K120,000 from businessman Mark Gabites, before later obtaining K180,000 in cash as gratification.
According to the prosecution, the money was intended as an inducement to facilitate a 100 percent remission of property rates owed to the Livingstone City Council by Zamnuka Farming Limited.
Earlier in the proceedings, Magistrate Kasanda ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, stating that the evidence presented was credible, reliable, and sufficient to place the mayor on her defence.
However, Muleabai has denied all allegations. In her defence, she acknowledged sharing a long-standing family friendship with one of the prosecution witnesses, Monde Sumbwa, but firmly rejected claims that she conspired with her or any other individual to solicit or receive money from Zamnuka Farming Limited.
She maintained that the accusations against her were unfounded and insisted she did not abuse her office for personal gain.
The case is now expected to resume on February 2, 2026, when the court is anticipated to deliver its judgment, bringing clarity to a matter that has remained unresolved for months.
By Misheck Mfune.