By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE and DELPHINE ZULU –

THE State has engaged International Police (Interpol) and the intelligence wing of the Immigration Department to help find fugitive musician Chanda Fumba, popularly known as Pilato, following a bench warrant issued against him.
Fumba, believed to be in South Africa is wanted by the court on a charge of disobedience of lawful orders after he jumped bail.
Fumba’s co-accused, Laurah Miti and Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean Tembo and two others have been appearing in court since January but the matter could not proceed without Fumba.
It is alleged that on September 29, this year, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons, Fumba, composer of a number of controversial social commentary songs, did disobey a lawful order to stop demonstrating at the National Assembly.
When the matter came up before Principal Magistrate, Mwaka Mikalile yesterday, the arresting officer, Chief Inspector Mubita Moya of Emmasdale police station informed the court that the bench warrant issued against Fumba had not yet been executed as he was out of the country.
He told the court that as a result, the police had engaged Interpol and other investigative wings to find him so that he would be brought back.
Public prosecutor, Micheal Nyundwe applied for the case to be adjourned to enable the investigation agencies trace Fumba.
Ms Mikalile adjourned the case to the April 27, this year.
Meanwhile, former Police assistant commissioner, Fred Hamaamba who went into hiding after being jointly charged with former Lusaka Province minister Obvious Mwaliteta has finally appeared in the Lusaka High Court and pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery.
He is accused of stealing a handbag from Elina Nyirenda, and envelope containing Gen12 forms (used for tallying votes during elections), the property of the Electoral Commission of Zambia and used or threatened to use actual violence to obtain the said properties.
He is also accused of stealing a Blackberry cell-phone valued at K4,000 from Emmanuel Simbeye.
The accused appeared before Justice Lombe Phiri and the matter was set for April 16 this year for trial.
And a 33-year old Lusaka man has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in the Lusaka High Court.
Peter Siwale, a clearing agent of Lusaka’s Meanwood Phase 2 is accused of shooting dead, his wife Charity Namukoko, 30, on July 27, last year.
He is also accused of murdering Andrew Chibesa, 27, whom he suspected of having an affair with his wife on the same date, at some time between 18:00 and 19:00 Hours in Meanwood in full view of his children.
Lusaka High Court Judge Phiri has set April 13, this year, as the datefor commencement of trial.
In the same court, Nshinka Kaputu of Meanwood Ibex, the man who shot his girlfriend, Precious Mangesana and injured his daughter on October 5, last year, also pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and assault causing actual bodily harm.
His trial date had been set for April 13, this year for trial.