By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –

THE Mutembo Nchito Tribunal instituted by President Edgar Lungu to probe his alleged misconduct will open its doors to the public on April 1, this year.
Former chief justice Annel Silungwe will lead other members of the Tribunal, former chief justices Mathew Ngulube, Ernest Sakala and Tribunal secretary Mathew Zulu in an open session to hear all preliminaries applications by parties to the proceedings.
This means that members of the public including those who are parties to the Tribunal can make submissions on various issues upon which the tribunal would make rulings.
For instance, people opposed or in support of the Tribunal holding its sittings in camera or other issues, can make their submissions to the Tribunal after which rulings on the way forward would be made.
Mr Zulu announced in a Press statement yesterday that following the swearing of the members of Tribunal by Chief Justice Irene Mambilima on Monday, the Tribunal would hold an open session on April 1.
“The Tribunal has designated 1st April 2015 as the date when they shall sit in open session when all preliminary applications by the parties to the proceedings before the Tribunal will be received,” Mr Zulu said.
The Tribunal sittings will be conducted from Mulungushi International Conference Center new wing.
Meanwhile, Mr Nchito has appealed to the Supreme Court against Lusaka High Court Judge Mwila Chitabo’s decision to discharge a stay earlier granted to him to stay President Lungu’s move to suspend him and set up a Tribunal to investigate him.
Mr Mutembo who has raised two grounds of appeal has submitted that Mr Justice Chitabo erred in law and fact when he discharged the leave to commence judicial review despite having found that the terms of reference touched on matters pending in the High Court and Supreme Court.