Saboi struggles to find lawyer

OUTSPOKEN political songstress Saboi Imboela is struggling to find a lawyer brave enough to weave her out of the legal trouble her vocal chords landed her in.

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The origin of Saboi’s predicament is a fiery Facebook rant in which she accused State House communications specialist Clayson Hamasaka of being a corrupt womaniser, claiming his infidelity had left his marriage in shambles, worse off than Zambia’s economy.

Arrested and charged with criminal libel, Saboi boldly declared that she would produce multiple Clayson Hamasakas to vindicate her claims. But, her lofty promise has crumbled, and she has failed to deliver.

To make matters worse, her lawyer, Makebi Zulu, has abandoned ship, leaving her scrambling to find new legal representation.

Yesterday, principal resident magistrate Sylvia Munyinya warned her to stop abusing her right to legal counsel to hamper the progress in her libel case.

Saboi had asked magistrate Munyinya to give her more time to finalise a deal with a new lawyer after she part ways with Makebi Zulu advocates.

However State advocate Lewis Kandele opposed Saboi’s application for an adjournment saying it was a ploy to merely delay the case like he has always observed since she was placed on defense.

“Clearly the conduct of the accused person shows that she is not considerate of the judicial time. It is for that reason that we object to the application that this matter be adjourned. The accused person has already laid evidence before court and if she is finding difficulties to bring other witness she should tell the court to close her case than perpetually asking for adjournments,” Kandele said.

He proposed that the court proceeds to hear her defense as she was not specific with how much time she needed.

But Saboi charged that she needed not to remind the prosecution everytime that she has a right to counsel of her choice and was not engaging lawyers on pro-bono basis.

“I am paying for the legal services. So when I said I am concluding with the new lawyers, it meant everything including the legal fees. The prosecution also needs to be reminded that Justice rushed is also Justice denied and I am desirous to conclude this matter as judiciously as possible,” she said.

She indicated that she had not failed to round up the Hamasakas as already promised.

Saboi said she does not have the knowledge on how to to subpoena witnesses hence she needs help.

“I do have a lot of witnesses that I want to bring to this court. And one of them has to be subpoenad just like the first witness I brought here. So I don’t know how I can proceed on my own when I don’t even know the process. so I want to bring someone who can help me subpoena the person because I don’t have information on how to do that,” she said.

Saboi claimed that there was contemptuous reporting over her case hence she needs a lawyer before she proceeds so that everything is handled well.

“I kindly ask that the matter be adjourned. We are almost concluding and I know that the next time we will be here, counsel will be here. And in terms of time, if a minimum of three weeks can be given, I’ll be very grateful and that is because I do have a number of cases where I have been sued and I sued and so I really need that time,”said Saboi.

“And lastly, the prosecution says I have been perpetually asking for adjournments, this is the second time I am doing that. The last two times he never showed up but I never cried foul and for me this is the second time I am asking. I am obliged.”

Kandele said the reasons advanced by Saboi were not compelling for the court to grant an adjournment.

” Even in her reply, she has not indicated the lawyer she has engaged. What stops her from coming again and telling the court that she has not finalised with the lawyer. Should this court buy the story that I am engaging the lawyer, from the last sitting, she had enough time to engage a lawyer,” said Kandele.

“Now that she has not exhibited that she has not engaged any lawyer since the last sitting that goes to show that she does not take the matter seriously. And anyone who doesn’t take matters seriously, this court shall not condone because it is pressed for time.”

In her ruling magistrate Munyinya noted that Saboi has been seeking adjournments on reasons that she needs to engage a lawyer.

“She has made the same application even today. The accused should have filed a notice that she was still engaging counsel. But there is no such notice on record. The accused had about three weeks to engage a lawyer,” said magistrate Munyinya.

“At the next sitting if the accused has no counsel she will have to proceed in person. As much as you have a right to legal representation, it does not mean that you have the whole time in the whole world to look for a lawyer. And you have to inform us that you want to adjourn the matter so that judicial time is saved. At the next sitting, we have to proceed.”

She adjourned the matter to July 9 at 14:30 hours for continuation of defence.

By Mwaka Ndawa

Kalemba June 13, 2024.