The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it has at least five witnesses to parade in a case involving former energy minister Newton Kambala and two others.

Speaking to Yoneco FM after court granted bail to Kambala, Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) President Enoch Chihana and President Lazarus Chakwera`s aid Chris Chaima Banda, ACB Director General Martha Chizuma said the Bureau is ready to proceed with prosecution.

“As for our part as the Bureau we finished the investigations and we are ready proceed with the trial so since the Magistrate who is handling the matter is not available today, they will inform us of the day of the hearing.

“We have undertaken to the courts to do the disclosures within the next 21 days and we have I think not more than five witnesses,” she said.

The three, who have pleaded not guilty to all the charges and have since been released on court bail, are answering counts bordering on conspiracy to influence a public officer to abuse her office, abuse of office and attempting to influence a public officer to abuse her office.

Chizuma added that ACB is yet to analyse data in the gadgets seized from the accused persons and she said the Bureau has seven days to finish the exercise.

On their part, lawyers representing the accused persons say they are ready with their defense once they are given disclosures of the case.

“We are very ready to proceed, be it that we are waiting for them (ACB) to give us the necessary disclosures for the case,” said George Mwale, one of the defence lawyers.

On his part, Chaima Banda said he will not step down as Presidential Advisor on Strategy because he is still innocent till proven guilty by the court.

“I will not resign because I haven’t being found guilty but people are calling on the President to fire me on my position and now the ball is in the court of the President to make a decision and that decision is out of my control,” said Chaima Banda.

Meanwhile, President Lazarus Chakwera has fired Kambala as Minister of Energy.