Ziger Trading Limited has asked the Lusaka High Court to enter a judgment in default of appearance and defence against Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo for failing to pay over K145,000 for the supply and printing services rendered to him at his request. The printing company states that the court should award it payment of K147,800, money due to it, interest, and any other relief because Mr Lusambo has not defended himself in the matter.

“The defendant, not having entered an appearance and defence to the writ of summons and statement of claim, it is this day adjudged that the plaintiff recovers from the defendant payment of K147,800 being monies due and payable for the supply and printing services rendered by the plaintiff to the defendant,” the statement reads in part.

This is in a matter Ziger Trading Limited sued Mr Lusambo for allegedly failing to pay K147,800 for the supply and printing services rendered at his request. In its statement of claim, Ziger Company Limited stated that it is in the business of printing and is the service provider to the minister. The printing company stated that on or before February this year, Mr Lusambo, of Hybrid Road, Chamba Valley, engaged it for purposes of supplying and printing of materials at an agreed price of K147,800.

The company also stated that Mr Lusambo was supposed to pay the money on February 22, 2019, when it was due. Ziger Company, however, stated that Mr Lusambo had been engaged on diverse occasions with a view to settling the matter but had not been forthcoming. “The plaintiff will show at trial that it has made several demands to the defendant but he has been unyielding,” the statement reads in part.

Ziger Trading further stated that due to Mr Lusambo’s holding on to the payment, it had incurred loss and damage. The company contends that the cost of the material that was supplied to Mr Lusambo was initially got on credit, adding that the company hoped to pay after the minister paid for the supply and service provided to him. It stated that as a consequence of Mr Lusambo’s action, the the company has suffered damage and loss.