Former Miss Zambia Cynthia Chikwanda, who is accused of illegal possession of dye, the ink used in stamps, has been slapped with an extra charge of possession of property suspected to have been stolen. On Monday, the former beauty queen and a man named Benjamin Chitunhu appeared before two courts facing several charges, among them illegal possession of dye.

Chitunhu, a Zimbabwean, is facing theft charges linked to the stolen vehicles at the University of Zambia (UNZA). Yesterday, Chikwanda was slapped with an extra charge of being in possession of property believed to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained. In this case, Chikwanda is jointly charged with Chitunhu, and the duo appeared before magistrate David Simusamba. It is alleged that on December 17 last year, Chitunhu stole a Toyota Allion registration number 8125 worth K62,000 belonging to Mr Patel Bhavin Kumar.

In the second count, it is alleged that on January 23 this year, Chitunhu wilfully and unlawfully damaged a rear screen and motor vehicle ignition worth K2,300 belonging to Honest Sichone. In the third count, it is alleged that on January 1 this year, Chitunhu had a car bearing registration number ALB 4845 which was reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

In the fourth count, it is alleged that on January 1 this year, Chikwanda and Chitunhu had two triangles tagged with registration number ALT 8125, which are suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained. The duo will take plea on Monday next week.

Meanwhile, a Kabangwe resident who petitioned the Constitutional Court to declare the seats of 53 United Party for National Development parliamentarians vacant for shunning President Edgar Lungu’s address to Parliament has withdrawn his suit against 10 lawmakers. Richard Mumba, a private citizen, filed an amended petition in the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, leaving the number of sued members of Parliament to 43.

Initially, Mumba had petitioned the court seeking a declaration that the seats of 53 UPND MPs, among them Mazabuka lawmaker Garry Nkombo, be declared vacant for boycotting President Lungu’s national address to the National Assembly. But now, Mumba wants the court to determine whether the 43 MPs breached the oath of allegiance to the President when they did not attend the National Assembly on March 17, 2017.

He is further seeking a declaration that the MPs are bound by the Constitution to attend the National Assembly and be addressed by the President whenever he attends and addresses the National Assembly.