Livingstone Mayor Returns to Court as Judgment Day Arrives.

Livingstone Mayor Returns to Court as Judgment Day Arrives.

Livingstone Mayor Constance Muleabai is today expected back in the Livingstone Magistrates’ Court, where judgment will finally be delivered in a long-running corruption case involving K180,000.

The ruling comes after weeks of delays, with judgment previously failing to take off on two occasions, first before Resident Magistrate Kalifano Manyepa and later under Senior Resident Magistrate Trevor Kasanda, who was unable to travel to deliver the decision.

Magistrate Kasanda is now scheduled to preside over the matter today, bringing to a close a prolonged wait in one of Livingstone’s most closely watched court cases.

Muleabai is accused of soliciting K120,000 and later receiving K180,000 between August and September 2023 from businessman Mark Gabites. 

According to the prosecution, the money was allegedly intended to induce the mayor to facilitate a 100 percent remission of property rates owed to the Livingstone City Council by Zamnuka Farming Limited.

Earlier, Magistrate Kasanda ruled that the State had established a prima facie case, meaning the prosecution’s evidence was sufficient to place the mayor on her defence.

In her testimony, Muleabai denied the allegations, admitting only that she knew one of the prosecution witnesses, Monde Sumbwa, describing their families as long-time friends. 

She, however, dismissed claims that she worked with Sumbwa or any other person to obtain the alleged gratification, maintaining that she neither solicited nor received the money in question.

With judgment set for today, residents and observers are keenly watching to see whether Mayor Muleabai will be acquitted or face legal consequences after nearly a year of trial.