By DELPHINE ZULU –
A MATTER in which a lecturer and a civil rights activist Laurah Miti and local artist Fumba Chama popularly known as ‘Pilato’ failed to take off yesterday.
The case could not take off on grounds that the other accused persons were not present in court because they were not informed.
Miti 52 of PHI is jointly charged with Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean Tembo 37, of Avondale, Pilato 33, of Kansanshi Ndola, Bornwell Mwewa 43,  of Barastone Villa, Lewis Mwape 44,  and Mika Mwambazi 30, both of unknown residences.
The accused have been charged with one count of disobedience of lawful orders contrary to section 127 of the Penal Code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that the accused on September 29,  last year, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons did disobey a lawful order to stop demonstrating at the national assembly
by number 4830 Constable Inspector Phiri an officer on duty employed by the Zambia Police Service.
When the matter came up for plea yesterday before Magistrate Mwaka Mikalile, the State prosecutor informed the court that only two accused persons Miti and Mwape were present in court while the rest were not in court.
Defence counsel Keith Mweemba told the court that the other three accused were not aware about yesterday’s hearing and asked for an adjournment.
“ The matter is not taking off today, because some of the accused persons are not present before court, you can only take plea when all of you are present before me,” for now the matter is adjourned,” she said.