The Livingstone Magistrate Court has adjourned a case involving two businessmen and a woman accused of illegally obtaining land in the tourist capital.
Magistrate Kahoyi Mushabati explained that the judgment was not ready, citing the bulk of the case records and the need for further review.
"As you have seen, this is quite voluminous, like the Bible, so I need more time to look at it," he said.
The case has been rescheduled for January 27, 2025, to allow all parties sufficient time.
Furthermore, Magistrate Mushabati noted that the court would be on leave and would only resume work in the new year.
"I will be going on leave, as you know it's the farming season, and I need to go and rest," he said.
One of the accused, Shah Jayendra Kumar Chihanganlal, requested the postponement, stating he needed to travel to India for medical treatment.
This is in a case where Israel Mushoke, 54, Shah Jayendra Kumar Chihanganlal, 65, and businesswoman Lata Jehendra Shah, 60, are facing allegations of unlawfully acquiring land and trespassing.
They are accused of deceiving a government officer, George Susiku Sindila, into signing documents for land ownership in Livingstone between January and June 2022.
The charges also include attempted criminal trespass.
The three accused, represented by Swizt Mweemba of Swizt Mweemba and Associates, maintain their innocence and informed the court that they would rely on the court's record and the submissions which they had filed at the point of no case to answer stage.
The court has assured that all due processes will be followed when the case resumes next year.
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