(NEWZIMBABWE) Game ranger to hang over murder
30/09/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
A GAME ranger was on Monday sentenced to death after shooting a man 10 times during a botched operation to arrest elephant poachers.
Trigger-happy Maxwell Bowa, 53, shot Lennon Nkosana, 29, as he fled from a kitchen hut which had been surrounded by a 10-man strong team of rangers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management and uniformed police officers.
Justice Lawrence Kamocha of the Bulawayo High Court, on circuit in Gweru, heard how the team of rangers and police officers went on patrol in the Simchembo area of Gokwe on June 12 last year trying to track down poachers and locate ivory.
The rangers had intelligence that a local man, Tanaka Nyoni, was a poacher and may have had some ivory hidden away, said Tafadzwa Mupariwa, prosecuting.
When the rangers and police failed to locate Nyoni, the court heard, they went to the Nkosana homestead where they allegedly tried to extract information about poachers by assaulting all those present, some hit with the butt of their guns.
The victim, said the prosecutor, bolted from the hut and Bowa pulled the trigger, shooting him at least 10 times as he fled.
After the shooting, the rangers and the officers left the scene. Bowa was only arrested after the victim's brothers who witnessed the killing filed a police report.
Justice Kamocha told Bowa, who had pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, that he had shot an innocent man in cold blood, as he sentenced him to face the gallows.
Zimbabwe has not carried out any executions since 2005 when armed robbers and convicted murderers Edgar Masendeke and Stephen Chidhumo were hanged.
Labels: GAME PARKS, MURDER
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Zimbabwean ‘shot dead' by SA employer
19/05/2013 00:00:00
by Sunday World
THE murder of a Zimbabwean man in South Africa’s Muldersdrift area - allegedly by his boss - has sparked an outcry, with local activists calling on the police to act against the gardener's employer.
Police, however, claim the suspect appeared in court a week ago in connection with the murder. But in what appears to be a cover-up, there is no record of the employer's appearance in court.
Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the suspect went to the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court but "didn't appear in front of a magistrate".
"He had discussions with the DPP (director of public prosecutions) and the investigating officer, who found holes in his story of self-defence. His firearm was confiscated. He has not been arrested as police are still investigating.
"It is alleged that the deceased was in the (open) field praying and some people complained of noise. Then in circumstances that are being investigated, he was shot by the suspect.
"The case was taken to court and postponed for further investigation," Mogale said.
The SACP in Muldersdrift in the West Rand area of Gauteng province and the community are up in arms and calling for the arrest of the man who has admitted shooting dead Sizo Moyo, 36.
SACP spokesman Paseka Mafereka said they were told Moyo was dragged from his room and killed.
"This man treats his staff badly. They are paid peanuts and he only employs foreigners and there aren't even toilets here," he said.
Friends said he had been employed by the suspect for the past 10 years and described him as a devout member of the Zion Christian Church.
Moyo stayed across the road from his employer in one of the dilapidated houses surrounded by long reeds and infested with flies.
His pastor, Thomas Mthombothi, said he was informed of Moyo's murder a day after he was killed.
"His room was badly vandalised. I was told he was found in the field where he used to pray. He was wearing his church uniform. The only thing found with him was his Bible and an empty drum.
"I can't understand how this was self-defence. Moyo was such a gentle soul, who would never hurt a fly," said Mthombothi.
Neighbours said the employer, accompanied by his son-in-law, had assaulted Moyo before shooting him.
Mthombothi said when he approached Muldersdrift police he was told the self-defence story.
"How can it be self-defence if Moyo had no weapon and it happened where he stayed?" he asked.
Moyo's mother, Deliwe, said she heard about his death from Mthombothi.
"I last spoke to him three months ago. He never complained about being unhappy. He worked to support his daughter back in Zimbabwe. I'm very sad.
"His employer didn't even have the decency to call me. This shows he doesn't care," says Deliwe.
Family spokesman Ndodana Mathe says they are struggling to raise funds to bury Moyo.
Labels: KATLEGO MOGALE, MURDER, SOUTH AFRICA, WHITE FARMERS
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Nawakwi describes daughter's death as tragic
By Kabanda Chulu
Fri 11 Jan. 2013, 13:56 CAT
IT IS a tragic thing and no matter what we say our daughter will not come back, says Edith Nawakwi. And police have arrested two more suspects in connection From front page with the brutal murder of Haantambo Hambulo, who was also robbed of her motor vehicle in Lusaka's Ibex Hill residential area.
Reacting to the killing of her stepdaughter (Haantambo), Nawakwi, reluctantly said it was not easy to face the current predicament.
"It is a good thing the police has done their work but it is not easy and it is a tragic thing. No matter what we say Haantambo will not come back," said Nawakwi.
"So bear with me and thanks for mourning with us; we shall talk later. Right now we are going to pick up her clothes; you see the predicament we are in."
Haantambo's father, Geoffrey Hambulo, said it was very difficult to comment on the death.
"It is a tragedy, we just want to mourn her and we think it is just one of those tragedies and whatever the police will come up with after postmortem, we shall listen," said Hambulo, when asked if the family suspected foul play other than the robbery.
And some police sources disclosed that preliminary findings indicate that Haantambo could have died of suffocation because her body was intact.
"But we shall establish actual cause of death after conducting postmortem and the motive of the killing is not clear although the suspects have told us they only wanted the car and they didn't get anything from the house apart from the vehicle and the cellphone," said the sources.
Lusaka Division police commissioner Joyce Kasosa said there were four suspects in custody by yesterday morning.
"Two more suspects have been picked up within Lusaka and I wouldn't say we have arrested all of them since investigations are ongoing and because the death is not natural, we shall ascertain what really happened after postmortem," said Kasosa.
"On the motive, we are still investigating, so I will not say anything but apart from the car and the phone, which are in our possession, we don't know if other items were taken, especially that she was alone."
Haantambo was killed on Tuesday night and her body was found in a septic tank in a sitting position, with her hands and legs tied.
Burial is expected to take place today at Leopards Hill Memorial Park, after a postmortem and a funeral service at Family Life Miracle Church.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, HAANTAMBO HAMBULO, MURDER
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Nawakwi describes daughter's death as tragic
By Kabanda Chulu
Fri 11 Jan. 2013, 13:56 CAT
IT IS a tragic thing and no matter what we say our daughter will not come back, says Edith Nawakwi. And police have arrested two more suspects in connection From front page with the brutal murder of Haantambo Hambulo, who was also robbed of her motor vehicle in Lusaka's Ibex Hill residential area.
Reacting to the killing of her stepdaughter (Haantambo), Nawakwi, reluctantly said it was not easy to face the current predicament.
"It is a good thing the police has done their work but it is not easy and it is a tragic thing. No matter what we say Haantambo will not come back," said Nawakwi.
"So bear with me and thanks for mourning with us; we shall talk later. Right now we are going to pick up her clothes; you see the predicament we are in."
Haantambo's father, Geoffrey Hambulo, said it was very difficult to comment on the death.
"It is a tragedy, we just want to mourn her and we think it is just one of those tragedies and whatever the police will come up with after postmortem, we shall listen," said Hambulo, when asked if the family suspected foul play other than the robbery.
And some police sources disclosed that preliminary findings indicate that Haantambo could have died of suffocation because her body was intact.
"But we shall establish actual cause of death after conducting postmortem and the motive of the killing is not clear although the suspects have told us they only wanted the car and they didn't get anything from the house apart from the vehicle and the cellphone," said the sources.
Lusaka Division police commissioner Joyce Kasosa said there were four suspects in custody by yesterday morning.
"Two more suspects have been picked up within Lusaka and I wouldn't say we have arrested all of them since investigations are ongoing and because the death is not natural, we shall ascertain what really happened after postmortem," said Kasosa.
"On the motive, we are still investigating, so I will not say anything but apart from the car and the phone, which are in our possession, we don't know if other items were taken, especially that she was alone."
Haantambo was killed on Tuesday night and her body was found in a septic tank in a sitting position, with her hands and legs tied.
Burial is expected to take place today at Leopards Hill Memorial Park, after a postmortem and a funeral service at Family Life Miracle Church.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, HAANTAMBO HAMBULO, MURDER
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Government conveys condolences to Nawakwi
Time Posted: January 10, 2013 6:32 pm
Government has conveyed its condolences to Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader Edith Nawakwi on the death of her 26 year old daughter, Hatamba Hambulo.
Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni, who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister, said the death of the FDD leader’s daughter was saddening.
Hatamba is believed to have been brutally killed by unknown people in Lusaka’s Ibex Hill residential area on Tuesday.
Mr. Sakeni said this in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He expressed government’s deep-felt grief and sorrow on the sad and tragic loss of Ms. Nawakwi daughter.
Mr. Sakeni wished the bereaved family God’s comfort and strength as the bereaved family goes through a time of extreme pain and sorrow.
He said perpetrators of such brutal and barbaric acts would not go unpunished but be dealt with severely by the long arm of the law once they are nabbed.
ZANIS
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, HATAMBA HAMBULO, KENNEDY SAKENI, MURDER
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Witness fails to indentify late Hang'andu's companion
By Joseph Mwenda
Wed 11 July 2012, 14:00 CAT
A witness called to identify a woman said to have been with the late UNZA assistant registrar Joseph Hang'andu who was recently found dead in a room at Inkanga lodge in Kafue, yesterday failed to indentify the suspect. Hang'andu, 64 was found dead in the morning on Sunday July 1, after booking a room with a female companion at the said lodge.
Giving an update on the case yesterday, Lusaka Province police commissioner Charity Katanga said a named witness from Inkanga Lodge failed to identify the woman he saw book a room with the late Hang'andu.
"The identification parade was supposed to take place yesterday or before yesterday, but we were told that the watchman had gone on leave. But it was finally done yesterday and the witnesses failed to identify anyone," she said.
Katanga said police had done their part by allowing an identification parade but it was unfortunate that it did not yield any positive outcome.
"That puts us in an awkward position because the children (to late Hang'andu) are saying they knew this police officer from Chilanga as a long time girlfriend, but this may mean that it was not her who was with him at the lodge that night," said Katanga.
She said the case had now taken a new twist as more questions have since been raised.
"It leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but for us, we will push for advice from the Director of Public Prosecution as to whether we can prosecute such a matter or not," said Katanga.
She also said the cause of Hang'andu's death had already been established.
"As police, we have done our part. As far as we are concerned, a postmortem was done and the outcome was that he (Hang'andu) died from a rapture of the heart due to high blood pressure," said Katanga.
Confirming the incident in an interview last week, Katanga said Hang'andu booked a room at the lodge in Kafue on Saturday June 30 with a woman and was found dead the following morning after a heart failure. "Workers at the lodge are saying Mr Hang'andu booked a room with a woman and they can identify this woman.
They found a cell phone and other 'suspicious things' in the room and when they checked, the last dialed number was linked to a named female police officer from Chilanga police," she said. Katanga said family members of Hang'andu who had two wives attempted to question the female officer but that her office advised them to wait for postmortem results. "A postmortem was conducted and it was established that he died of heart failure due to high blood pressure. The 'things' that were found in the room are being kept in police custody," said Katanga.
Lusaka lawyer Kelvin Hang'andu said police should investigate the matter conclusively to determine the real cause of his father's death. During the burial at Leopards Hill Memorial Park last Wednesday, Kelvin said there were many questions arising from hisfather's "premature" death. The late Hang'andu was a lawyer and former district secretary for Choma and was studying for his Masters' Degree at the African University.
Labels: COURTS, MURDER
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Lubinda demands justice over Zambian killed by Congolese
By Kombe Chimpinde in Lusaka and Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Mon 09 July 2012, 13:24 CAT
FOREIGN affairs minister Given Lubinda has demanded that sufficient laws must apply when dealing with the Congolese who burnt Zambian truck driver Derrick Chanda to death last week. And normal operations have resumed at Kasumbalesa border after three days of protests by truck drivers following the burning to death of Chanda by Congolese.
Meanwhile, Congo DR Minister of Transport and Communication Kahozi Zumbo on Saturday evening nearly caused a stir when he claimed that Chanda was in fact Congolese and not Zambian.
In an interview yesterday, Lubinda said the government was aware and saddened that harassment of truck drivers at Kasumbalea border had been happening for some time now.
"Those are the issues our Ambassador in Kinshasa and our Consular General in Lubumbashi are following up with their counterparts. So it is not just this incident, it is all similar incidents that have occurred in the past so that we avoid the occurrence of this," he said.
Lubinda said the Congolese government through the Governor of Katanga Moses Katumbi had reported that some suspects had been apprehended. He called for peace and harmony between Zambians and Congolese who are in Zambia.
Lubinda said the Zambian government's interest was that the culprits are brought and prosecuted in the interest of justice.
"We will ensure that the culprits who torched the Zambian driver are brought to book and that sufficient punishment according to Congolese laws pertaining to offenders are applied," said Lubinda.
And during a three-hour meeting held on the Congolese side of the border to resolve the impasse, Zumbo who was delegated to represent Katumbi claimed that Chanda had a home in Congo at Lwashi village and that his relatives were actually holding a funeral waiting for his remains to be taken back to Congo.
The Zambian delegation was led by acting Chililabombwe district commissioner Stephen Chishiko.
Zumbo also belittled the office of the District Commissioner from Zambia by claiming that it was not the highest office to meet with him.
But Chishiko firmly countered his sentiments saying the office of district commissioner was third in the hierarchy of provincial administration and had the authority to handle the matter at that level.
"The highest authority in the province is the honourable provincial minister followed by the Permanent secretary, the deputy permanent secretary who is at the same level as me. And for your own information, his honour the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia has made a statement on what is going on here, meaning government at the highest level is fully aware of whatever we are doing here," Chishiko told Zumbo to the satisfaction of the Zambian delegation.
And immediately Zumbo made the claims that Chanda was Congolese, there was a sense of shock and apprehension on the faces of the Zambian delegation members, especially the drivers. But Chishiko calmly disputed the minister's claim, urging them to concentrate on the demands of the SADC drivers.
"All the documentation, both work and personal indicates that Chanda is a Zambian and has a family here in Zambia, so the question of his nationality does not arise now. If there is anything like that, let us resolve it later and administratively. For now, let us deal with issues at hand. The owner of the truck is here and his records clearly show that Chanda is Zambian but we can resolve that later administratively," Chishiko said and the meeting progressed.
Zumbo also said the Congolese authorities had apprehended suspected arsonists who burnt the truck to which Chishiko urged him to ensure that justice prevails in the matter.
Some of the demands the truck drivers presented through their chairperson, Stanley Muluka, include security whilst in Congo, lessened inconvenencies in the clearance process involving unofficial third parties and commissions.
In response, Zumbo assured the drivers that their demands would be seriously looked into.
He directed Congo's chief immigrations officer to remove third parties in the clearing process and unnecessary commissions.
Meanwhile, trucks have started crossing into Congo without interruptions after Chishiko assured the drivers that the situation would be monitored in the next six months to see if all their demands would be met.
By 10:00 hours yesterday, several trucks had crossed into Congo.
"We have had quite a good number of them cleared to cross into Congo and I am sure as the day progresses, we will clear a very good number of the marooned trucks," said a customs official.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, DRC, GIVEN LUBINDA, KASUMBALESA, MURDER
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REVEALING DARK SECRETS. . .as game rangers use unorthodox means to protect rhinos
Saturday, 23 April 2011 22:25 Environment & Tourism
SOME wildlife conservancy security personnel in the Lowveld are said to be using unorthodox means to protect rhinos.
They allegedly lure and ambush “innocent” people, some of whom have been killed after being passed off as poachers. Some survivors of the alleged shady activities say the agents use the “kills” and arrests to claim funds from an international non-governmental organisation that fundraises for rhino conservation. The Sunday Mail tracked down a field intelligence officer at one of the Save conservancies and below is his account.
I am simply giving out accounts of some of the encounters I have had as a field intelligence officer.
An international non-governmental organisation provides funds to conservancies for rhino conservation activities.
The money is disbursed in proportion to the number of poachers arrested or killed.
Some of the funds are disbursed directly as an incentive to the security officers and it is this development that has led to several “innocent” people being lured and killed or arrested as poachers.
The more poachers you arrest or shoot dead, the more money you get from the organisation.
In April 2010, a plan was hatched by senior security personnel at our conservancy to lure Masvingo businessman Innocent Mudzviti with information that a game ranger had in his possession a rhino horn worth US$35 000.
Mudzviti teamed up with two soldiers from 4 Brigade in Masvingo, a junior officer from the Criminal Investigation Department and another Masvingo businessman named Nyoni.
The team of seven, who had US$35 000 cash on them, together with the security officer, drove an Isuzu KB to the conservancy where they were told they would meet the game ranger with the supposed rhino horn.
They parked their vehicle along the Chiredzi-Chisumbanje highway, about three kilometres from the main gate. Mudzviti, the two soldiers, and the security officer, who had lured them, entered the conservancy to negotiate with the said game warden to release the purported rhino horn while Nyoni, the CID officer and another man kept guard in the car.
Mudzviti and the soldiers were led into an ambush. The soldiers were shot and killed on the spot while Mudzviti escaped but was later captured.
Nyoni and the other people who were waiting with him in the car were immediately arrested.
It was later reported to the police that the soldiers were poachers who were shot during contact while Nyoni and others were reported to have been inside the conversancy when they were clearly outside.
It would have been far more convincing to have arrested Mudzviti and company in the act of poaching.
The question remains, what is poaching? Is being lured to a rhino horn regarded as poaching?
There are several other similar incidents.-The Sunday Mail
THE RESPONSE
Mr Mike Ball is the chief security officer of Malilangwe Conservancy Trust. The following is his response to some of the allegations raised by the field intelligence officer.
THE Save Conservancies have been hit by numerous rhino poaching syndicates and we have had to take stern measures in retaliation.
I know most conservancies face similar challenges with poachers as we do. For us at Malilangwe, we fight bruising battles with poachers and we are aware of the smear campaigns our detractors have embarked on.
We know that those whose poaching efforts we have thwarted are working 24 hours to try and discredit us.
We have busted several local and cross-border poaching syndicates and these have gone all out on a smear campaign. We work with the ZRP and we provide resources when they are needed as we try to protect rhinos from these daring poachers.
Some of our detractors have even alleged racism at Malilangwe, but we will not be distracted.
Surprising enough, despite these allegations of racism on Malilangwe’s part, everybody in this industry wants to work for Malilangwe where conditions of service are clearly better than anywhere else.
People who claim to have been lured were first class rhino poachers who would have been arrested and then try to defend themselves.-The Sunday Mail
Labels: GAME PARKS, MURDER, WILDLIFE, WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
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Dr Musonda’s shock not surprising, says Sata
By Mwala Kalaluka
Mon 06 June 2011, 04:01 CAT
PF leader Michael Sata says convicted former health deputy minister and MMD member of parliament Dr Solomon Musonda is shocked that
despite belonging to the ruling party, he has been slapped with a nine months prison sentence for shooting a PF cadre.
And SACCORD says Dr Musonda's conviction should send a clear warning to perpetrators of political violence that they can be taken to the International Criminal Court if local systems failed to deal with them.
Commenting on Dr Musonda’s complaints that the nine months jail sentence imposed on him by Kabwe High Court judge Mugeni Mulenga for shooting Jackson Musaka in his Chitambo Constituency last year was excessive and shocking, Sata said in an interview yesterday that it was not surprising that Dr Musonda was shocked by the conviction.
Sata said, however, that Dr Musonda was legally entitled to exhaust the entire judicial process by appealing his conviction all the way up to the Supreme Court.
“He is shocked because he did not expect that, being on the side of government. So he is right by being shocked,” Sata said.
He said Dr Musonda was shocked by the court's decision because other people that were on the side of the government had gotten away with such crimes.
“Others got away with it without appearing even one hour in court,” Sata said. “He is shocked because this is not the end of the story, because having been convicted for more than one day he has Medical Council to face for his practicing licence.”
On the behaviour of MMD cadres that harassed private media journalists that wanted to interview Dr Musonda after his imprisonment on Friday, Sata said such conduct was unfortunate as the country headed towards the general elections.
“It is most unfortunate that our colleagues instead of being sorry for the person who was injured by the gunshot they want to bring more violence,” said Sata.
MMD cadres led by Central Province vice-chairman George Kangwa threatened to manhandle journalists from The Post and Muvi TV that went to cover the court proceedings relating to Dr Musonda's sentencing last Friday.
And Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes SACCORD executive director Lee Habasonda said in an interview yesterday that the number of blood-thirsty characters must be minimised ahead of this year's polls.
“It must send a clear warning to perpetrators of violence that you can’t go on abusing other people because you are in authority,” Habasonda said.
“It conviction is going to minimise these blood-thirsty characters we have in the country.”
Habasonda said Dr Musonda’s conviction by judge Mulenga would somehow enhance public confidence in the judiciary and people could still rely on it for conflict resolution.
Habasonda said the issue should be seen beyond Dr Musonda in view of the fact that Zambians could still drag architects of political violence to the International Criminal Court ICC in the Hague should the national systems fail to deal with them.
Dr Musonda was on Friday afternoon released from detention at Kabwe High Court holding cells after judge Mulenga granted him a K2.5 million cash bail pending appeal against his conviction and sentence.
This was just hours after he was sentenced to prison.
In convicting him, judge Mulenga said Dr Musonda’s shooting of Musaka was a reckless and unjustifiable act for which a defence of self-defence could not sustain.
Labels: CADRES, MICHAEL SATA, MURDER, PF, SOLOMON MUSONDA
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Incoming govt should arrest Rupiah for murder - Panji
By Roy Habaalu
Fri 11 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is running a brutal government that is killing people anyhow, says Col Panji Kaunda. Commenting on Headman Sampaya Nyambe of Lifweko village in Mongu district's statement that the next government must arrest President Banda for murder over the death of two youths in Mongu, Col Kaunda said President Banda's government must not be allowed to kill people anyhow and must be tried for murder.
He said the commanding officer for Western Province, the minister and all those that gave orders must be tried for murder.
“The killings were not by accident, so that's why we've been calling for an inquiry in the death of the two in Mongu. We need to establish why guns were fired, at what range, what were the circumstances that led to the firing of the bullets because we've just heard from one side, that of government,” said Col Kaunda.
“The police man who fired that bullet was sent and those who gave orders must be held responsible. The MMD is a brutal regime, that's how they killed my brother (major Wezi Kaunda). They have no respect for human rights and humanity,” he said.
He said the police officers who killed people were agents of government and must be held reponsible.
In yesterday's edition of The Post, Headman Nyambe said President Banda should be jointly charged with home affairs minister Mkhondo Lungu and Inspector General of police Francis Kabonde.
“In all fairness President Rupiah Banda as commander-in-Chief of the armed forces should be arrested by the in-coming government and tried for murdering our children,” Nyambe said.
Labels: MURDER, PANJI KAUNDA
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Rupiah must be tried for Mongu killings - Nyambe
By Roy Habaalu in Mongu
Wed 09 Mar. 2011, 04:02 CAT
The next government should arrest President Rupiah Banda and try him for murder over the death of two youths in Mongu, a traditional leader has said.
Sampaya Nyambe, who is village headman of Lifweko village in Mongu district, said President Banda should be jointly charged with Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu and Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde.
“In all fairness, President Rupiah Banda as commander -in-chief of the armed forces should be arrested by the in-coming government and tried for murdering our children. It's not about the number of people killed, life is sacred. A person who kills 200 people and someone who kills only one person are both guilty of murder,” headman Nyambe said in an interview.
He said life belonged to God and no-one should take it away. God would not forgive President Banda's government for telling lies.
He said that before President Banda and his ministers started their campaigns in Western Province, they should explain to the people why their children were killed in cold blood.
He said Vice-President George Kunda must explain why he chose to tell lies in Parliament and cheated the nation over the death of people in Mongu when the truth was known.
“We'll demand that they explain these things before they start campaigning here in Barotseland. Why should we vote for MMD this year? Is it for them to return and kill more people? Are those they killed and maimed not enough?
How much more blood from us do they need? Have we not suffered enough?” headman Nyambe asked. “We shall mourn our dead until the end of time. We've been denied development. We live in poverty and misery.
They (MMD) have refused to give us development. No, they should not come and ask for votes. Now they're even killing our children when we ask for development. Our children are killed like chickens.”
Headman Nyambe said the people of Barotseland, like others elsewhere, were looking forward to the PF/UPND forming a government to liberate people from the clutches of poverty inflicted on them by the uncaring MMD government. He said President Banda and his ministers had killed the legacy of late president Levy Mwanawasa.
“I would like to call him the people's president because he gave us a lot of hope. They (MMD) have killed his legacy. No country can develop if you don't fight corruption. No country can succeed in corruption. Rupiah Banda is in love with corruption,” headman Nyambe said.
Labels: BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, LAWRENCE NYAMBE, MURDER, RUPIAH BANDA
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Who killed Leon Booysen?
CAROLYN RAPHAELY - Oct 29 2010 15:18
Did 14-year-old Leon Booysen take his own life, hanging himself by his trousers in a cell at the Heidelberg police station?
Were the injuries discovered on his body, particularly around his anus, evidence of a terrible crime committed on the boy before he died? Or were they incurred during the post-mortem or subsequent toxicological examination?
Last Friday, October 22, was the fourth anniversary of Booysen’s death. Yet, in spite of ongoing attempts by the family’s lawyer, no inquest was ordered until the Mail & Guardian readied this story for print.
On Tuesday afternoon, after several attempts to get official comment, the family received confirmation that formal inquest proceedings would finally begin on November 23.
Questions
It has been an extremely rough four years for Booysen’s aunt, Sylvia Minies, an Eersterust spaza shop owner. Booysen was the child of Minies’s brother, but she brought up the boy from the age of two. When he was 14, he was made a ward of the state and sent to Emmasdal High School in Heidelberg.
Minies has been consumed by the need to find answers to the questions continually reeling through her mind about his death. Why was she not told of his arrest until seven hours after his death? What happened in the Heidelberg police cells? If he hanged himself, why were there no marks on his neck? And who wrote the English suicide message in toilet paper on the floor of his cell, because he spoke Afrikaans?
“It is a matter of grave concern when a child dies in police custody,” said Morgan Courtenay, an attorney at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Child Law, who is acting for Minies.
“Since April this year, I’ve logged more than 40 phone calls to various people concerned with this matter -- the prosecutor, the inquest clerk, the investigating officer and others -- to try to ascertain where this case is going. We waited three-and-a-half years for a toxicology report because of an alleged backlog in the state laboratories dating back to 2005.
'Miscarriage of justice'
“When the report was finally received in March this year, the prosecutor requested that the magistrate hold an inquest into Leon’s death. And the magistrate sent the docket back to the investigating officer with further queries. Having to wait four years for an inquest is absurd and cruel. It’s a miscarriage of justice.”
CONTINUES BELOW
Because an inquest is pending, many of those involved in the case won’t discuss details on the record. Repeated attempts to reach Tlali Tlali, the department of justice and constitutional development spokesperson, by phone, email and SMS failed. As matters stand, the main hold-up appears to be the delayed toxicology report.
All that Minies knows about the case is what she was told by Superintendent Balaraman Govansamy, the officer now commanding the Heidelberg police station: that Booysen was arrested for stealing bread from the hostel kitchen at the school, where he was a boarder.
According to a reliable source at the school, deputy headmaster Ewert Pistorius was on duty that Friday night. Booysen was reported missing in the afternoon and it was assumed he had absconded and gone home for the weekend. At about eight o’clock, two teachers reported that the boy had broken into a hostel kitchen and that “some articles” were missing.
Pistorius, who did not live on the property, was telephoned and instructed the teachers to call the police, who then took the boy to the Heidelberg police station. On Sunday, the school was informed that Booysen had taken his own life.
Nowhere to go
Govansamy said: “We told the school to fetch the boy that Friday night because it was his guardian. They said he was a problem child and they didn’t want him. We had no alternative but to keep him because all the places of safety were full.
“Everyone liked Leon, the teachers and the children,” said another senior source from the school. “Not one teacher could believe he committed suicide. Nor any of the boys. In my 40 years of teaching, I’ve seen many children with those kinds of tendencies. Leon was never like that.”
Minies first heard of Leon’s imprisonment at 5pm on Sunday night, seven hours after his body was discovered. “It was an inspector. He said: ‘Leon is dead.’ Just like that,” Minies recalled. “Then he asked me to come to Heidelberg to identify his body. I asked him to please not move his body until I got there.”
The following morning, when Minies, accompanied by two friends, arrived at the police station, she said she was told by Govansamy that Booysen’s body had been moved elsewhere, just 10 minutes before their arrival. “[Govansamy] told me he thought the body had been sent to Germiston, but he wasn’t sure. They also told me I wasn’t allowed to see his body because I would interfere with evidence.
“I asked for his clothes and was told the pants were being kept as evidence. They said there was nothing else except a pair of shoes.”
Shocking discovery
Minies asked to see the cell where Booysen was found. “What we saw in that cell was truly unbelievable,” she said. “There was a message on the floor made from letters cut out of toilet paper. It was stuck to the floor with bakseep [soap scum] and read, ‘I am dead. I hang myself. Beware!’
“The note was in English, but Leon’s language was Afrikaans. He never spoke English, never mind wrote it. We wanted to take photographs but they wouldn’t allow us to.”
Ten days later, at Minies’s insistence, her own undertakers took Booysen’s body from the Germiston state mortuary to Eersterust, where she wanted her nephew buried. She wanted to wash his body herself to prepare him for burial.
But what she discovered gave her nightmares every night for more than a year, especially the injuries around his anus.
Sun Lai, the undertaker who helped to prepare the body for burial, said: “I was disturbed for days and days. In all my years as an undertaker, I’d never seen anything like this.”
According to Minies, there were no markings or injuries on Booysen’s neck. In fact, there were no marks on the boy’s neck at all, though there was blood in the boy’s ears, nose, mouth and anus. The anus seemed stretched. His forehead appeared to have an enormous green bruise. There were also marks on his knees.
“If I hadn’t insisted on undressing him and washing him, we would never have known,” said Minies, who photographed the injuries and trauma on the boy’s body.
Medical opinions
Doctors shown the photographs said they were uncertain whether the anal injuries might have been caused by the post-mortem, toxicological examination or something else. They said the photographs would have to be viewed with various reports before any conclusions could be drawn.
Minies laid a complaint at the Eersterust police station on November 7 2006, which was submitted to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), about her treatment by the Heidelberg police.
Responding to the commission on December 27 2006, Govansamy said: “It is not true that no details could be given to Mrs Minnies [sic] or that her request was refused to view the body of her nephew. The post-mortem was to be conducted in Germiston and she had been advised to go there. An inquest was conducted. The report has not been received as yet.”
Govansamy said he found Minies’s complaint “unbelievable”.
“I showed her the cell where the boy had written a message, but she said I wasn’t cooperative. I went out of my way to help her. I personally visited her at her home in Eersterust and updated her about the investigation. I told her the post-mortem report showed the boy’s injuries were consistent with hanging and also personally phoned her about the toxicology report this year.”
Although Minies confirmed that Govansamy had visited her in December 2006, she said it wasn’t good enough: “He promised me the case would be properly investigated and he would update me regularly. I haven’t seen his face or heard from him since.”
Meanwhile, a grieving family waits for answers and is still struggling to come to terms with the child’s death.
“I need to know what happened to Leon, for this never-ending story to end,” said Minies. “In my quiet moments, I still hear him screaming for help.
“It is so painful for me when Leon’s brother and sister, Brandon and Michelle, ask me all the time, ‘Why? What happened to Leon?’”
Carolyn Raphaely is a member of the Wits Journalism Justice Project, which investigates alleged miscarriages of justice
Labels: CHILD ABUSE, LEON BOOYSEN, MURDER, SYLVIA MINIES
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Prominent farmer shot dead at home
by Peta Thornycroft I
Daily Telegraph
27/10/2010 00:00:00
A PROMINENT white commercial farmer was gunned down at his Chegutu home on Monday night. Kobus Joubert, 67, was shot dead and his wife Mariana, 64, was assaulted by assailants who also robbed them of US$10,000 (£6,300) in cash, two mobile phones and two pistols.
When attackers beat up Joubert’s wife, they also took her laptop and allegedly accused her family of being members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change.
"We are not sure whether this murder was criminal or political, at this stage, and this is very sensitive matter for our members," said Mike Clark, who monitors unrest on remaining white-owned farms for the Commercial Farmers' Union.
"Kobus had about 50ha (123 acres) of tobacco in the ground when he died and so that has to be reaped somehow."
Joubert was one of the few remaining large scale tobacco growers left in Zimbabwe.
Two years ago, Joubert, a former president of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association, was attacked by militants loyal to Mugabe. The couple were forced to flee their home, Scottsdale farm, in the Chegutu district about 60 miles west of Harare, and set up camp in the grass alongside the Harare-Kwekwe highway for several weeks.
When the police tried to move them away, the couple protested saying that they had no other home. The late vice President Joseph Msika, who had tried to assist several white farmers since land invasions began in 2000, secured a permit for Joubert to remain in his home and continue farming.
Labels: FARM MURDERS, KOBUS JOUBERT, MURDER, WHITE FARMERS
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Govt to address Collum Coal mine woes
Friday, October 22, 2010, 16:34
Government has constituted a committee to look into the plight of miners at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district. Home Affairs Minister Mukondo Lungu announced the formation of the committee at a meeting held at Collum Coal Mine. This was after Mr. Lungu and his labour and Mines counterparts visited the mine Thursday.
He disclosed that the committee which would comprise Labour officers, the Ministry of Mines, the Chinese management,the Gemstone Allied Workers Union,and the workers’ representative will address the problems on 27 October at the Ministry of Labour and Social services in Lusaka.
Mr Lungu appealed to both the management and employees to work in harmony as the discussions are going on and urged the Chinese investors not to use firearms on innocent people.
He said government was alarmed over the shooting of 12 miners at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine and President Rupiah Banda has conveyed his sympathy to all the affected employees.
Mr Lungu who was sent by President Banda to find out the root cause of the shooting incident at Collum Coal mine was also accompanied by Labour Minister Austin Liato, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale.
He said government would engage the Chinese investors to abide by the Zambian laws than resorting to the use of a gun.
“ We are interested in the investors and employees so that they live in harmony, President Banda is also interested in the welfare of employees at place work that is why he sent us here to find the root cause of the shooting incident,” Mr Liato said.
Mr. Liato said that government is interested in the mutual relationship between employees and the employers for social dialogue to be achieved all the times.
“ We are interested in the investors and employees so that they live in harmony, President Banda is also interested in the welfare of employees at place work that is why he sent us here to find the root cause of the shooting incident,” Mr Liato said.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Mr. Mwale also said government want to encourage investment though the investors should respect the employees and follow the country’s laws.
He said there should be a fresh start to address the problems at the mine because in the past his Ministry had failed to address them.
The Chinese Collum Coal Mine employees’ representative Ebby Siamuvwele told the ministers that they operate without having leave days, sick leave, and there were no written condition of service.
Mr Siamuvwele said they get their money through a window rather than from a bank and the Chinese manager beat them while they were on duty with impunity.
Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, LABOUR, MUKONDO LUNGU, MURDER
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Chinese investors are above the law - Sata
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone and Patson Chilemba in Lusaka
Sun 17 Oct. 2010, 04:40 CAT
MINEWORKERS unions have strongly condemned the shooting of 11 Collum Coal Mine workers in Sinazongwe by Chinese managers after they allegedly protested over bad conditions of service. And chief Sinazongwe has warned that the shooting of the workers in his chiefdom marked the beginning of war between the Chinese and the local community.
Meanwhile,
PF leader Michael Sata has charged that the shooting incident had revealed that Chinese investors were now above the law. Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Rayford Mbulu and National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) national secretary Godwell Kaluba in separate interviews said
it was unacceptable that investors could resort to shooting workers that were demanding what was rightfully due to them.
Two of the victims who were seriously wounded, Vincent Chengele 20, and Simon Simwete 28, have since been evacuated to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
“I have dispatched the general treasurer and director of occupational safety and health. They should be in Sinazongwe tomorrow (yesterday) to get information on the ground. In a mine we can’t allow the carrying of firearms, we can’t allow the Chinese to do that. The police should investigate and bring to book the suspects. We don’t care what investments people bring in the country. They should have sought dialogue with the workers or the unions. This is regrettable. What if a life was lost?” Mbulu asked.
“We can’t allow people to do anything they want because they have brought ‘funny money’ in this country. They can take it elsewhere. They must be arrested immediately.”
Mbulu said MUZ was dealing with a similar case three years ago where Chinese investors used a firearm on miners in Chambeshi. He expressed regret that the case was up to now still being investigated.
“Workers should be protected in this country. We want to be informed that these suspects have been brought to book. They should leave our country,” Mbulu charged.
He said there were many investors that wanted to invest in the country but Zambians should never allow such behaviour from foreign investors.
And Kaluba said there was growing concern over some Chinese investors who had exhibited violence towards staff at their mines.
“There are some bad eggs. It’s very unfortunate, it’s extremely unacceptable. When people are crying for better conditions of service, it means there is a problem. It’s either management doesn’t want to listen, negotiate or dialogue. The shooting is extremely unacceptable. In some cases we have had the Chinese slapping or beating up Zambian workers,” he said.
“This is unacceptable, that is why some people say the Chinese are bad.” Southern Province commanding officer Lemmy Kajoba referred queries to public relations office, as the matter was now being handled by Police Service Headquarters.
Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said she was not yet at the office by press time. However, chief Sinazongwe has expressed anger and strongly condemned the Chinese managers for shooting at the workers. He said firearms should never have been used.
“The issue was very simple, they (workers) were asking; ‘why no increment for two months’. The other thing could have been communication was not good, the workers were using English and the Chinese were using Chinese. Two guns were used,” he narrated.
“They shouldn’t have used the firearms. That’s very bad. We know they bring development but they shouldn’t shoot and use violence on the workers. This is the beginning of war between the locals and the Chinese. We need to harmonize the situation if no death occurs. If there is a death, this war will never finish unless we step in as traditional leaders.”
And narrating events that followed, chief Sinazongwe said the residents in the area were angered after they heard about the shooting and that the Chinese managers had run away.
“The people went to hunt for them. Police came with tear gas and many people were tear gassed,” he said.
“The two that were seriously injured in the chest by this time have been taken to Lusaka (UTH). For the others (nine) here, we don’t know when the bullets (pellets) will be removed.” UTH public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta could not give details of the two referred to UTH.
“I am told they are at UTH.
I am here trying to check, I will give you details later,” Mbangweta said. Meanwhile, Sata has charged that the Chinese investors were now above the law. Commenting on the shooting of the eleven workers, Sata said it was only in Zambia where a foreigner could shoot so many Zambians and get away with it. “You see the Chinese are above the law.
It is only in Zambia where a foreigner can shoot so many Zambians and get away with it, and the police are only making slogans that ‘we are going to investigate’. They are behaving the same way they behaved on Chitambo MMD member of parliament Dr Solomon Musonda who shot a PF cadre” he said.
Sata said the Chinese were supposed to be in custody pending investigations because the evidence was already there that they shot people. “That’s the evidence. What more do they want? Why did they let people who were shot taken to the hospital and leave the Chinese? Are the Chinese above the law?” he asked. Sata said the slowness by the government and the police to react to the shooting showed that the country lacked leadership.
“If we had leadership, what is happening would not happen because I can’t see any investor in the People’s Republic of China shooting any Chinese and getting away with it,” Sata said. He said the opposition should put aside their differences and speak strongly in unison against the incident.
Sata said the PF would demonstrate to the country how patriotic they were as the party would stand by the victims of the shooting.
“We know we can’t be protected by this government because it has been heavily corrupted by the Chinese for the 2011 elections and the current by-elections,” said Sata.
An eyewitness on Friday told The Post that the Chinese employers shot the victims in the neck, mouth, head, shoulder, chest and other parts of their bodies. When contacted for a comment, mines minister Maxwell Mwale said he was awaiting a full report on the matter.
Labels: CHIEF SINAZONGWE, CHINESE, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, GODWELL KALUBA, MAXWELL MWALE, MICHAEL SATA, MURDER, RAYFORD MBULU
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Chinese shoot and injure 11 at Collum Coal Mine
Friday, October 15, 2010, 15:11
Eleven miners including one onlooker have been shot and serious wounded by Chinese nationals at the Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province.
Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) Oliver Pelete confirmed the development to ZANIS today that the
11 people were shot while they were presenting their grievances of poor working conditions to Chinese Management at shaft two.
Mr Pelete has since informed the police to arrest the Chinese nationals involved in the shooting of the miners and to investigate the motive of their shooting.
“At the moment I have no exact information of what led to the shooting of the miners.The investigating wings should carry out their investigations first,” Mr Pelete said.
The DC who escorted the injured miners to Maamba Hospital said doctors were attending to them though two miners were in critical condition.
A check by ZANIS at Maamba Hospital found doctors and health personnel attending to the 11 injured miners.
The 11 injured miners include, Simon Simwete 28, Abby Siameba 25, Virason Mwanamusiya 24, Madinda Siamubotu 27, Wisbone Simukonda 25, Boston Munakazela 21, Wallen Muntanga 28 and Humphrey Sinuka 24.
Others are, Brighton Sianfuno 21, Bowas Syapwaya 21, and Vincent Chengele 20.
Meanwhie, Nkandabbawe and Sinazeze residents have also blocked the road leading to the Chinese Collum mine and no vehicle is being allowed to go in or out of the mine.
Sinazeze police had difficulties to disperse the residents that blocked the road leading to the Chinese Collum mine.
[ ZANIS ]
Labels: CHINESE, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, LABOUR, MURDER
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Court finds Mohan, Patel brothers with case to answer in murder case
By Maluba Jere
Thu 16 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
SUPREME Court judge Gregory Phiri has found Inkteck managing director Mathew Mohan and two brothers with a case to answer in a matter where the trio is alleged to have murdered Cyclone Hardware director Sajid Itowala.
This is in a matter where Mohan, Shabia Patel and Idris Patel are indicted on a charge of murder contrary to Section 200 of the Penal Code CAP 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence allege that the trio on July 21, 2009 murdered Itowala. The trio pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Ruling on whether or not the trio had a case to answer, Judge Phiri sitting as Lusaka High Court judge said the prosecution had established a prima facie case against all three accused persons.
He said he had carefully considered the submissions by both parties as well as the evidence by all the 28 prosecution witnesses.
Judge Phiri noted that the prosecution had presented a mixture of evidence in form of direct, real and circumstantial.
He explained that the evidence on record had established that Itowala was murdered in cold blood in broad daylight after he was abducted from House number 1 Ngulube Road in Woodlands.
On the evidence by Lusaka lawyer Frank Tembo who testified that he had no hand in Itowala’s murder but that he and Mohan had a lawyer-client relationship, judge Phiri said that was far from the truth saying there was no doubt that his Tembo involvement was to erase all the evidence implicating his client.
“…Frank Tembo took charge of A1 Mohan from Pamodzi Hotel, he gave him a lift up to the point where he disposed off the murder weapon at the Great East Road. This is clearly far from the truth that his was a lawyer-client relationship,” judge Phiri said.
He also said Tembo was an accessory to Itowala’s murder adding that the prosecution evidence had established that all the conspirators were paid cash values in various amounts to stop them from revealing what they had seen.
Judge Phiri said that behaviour was typical of conspirators in financed murders.
However, judge Phiri said there was no evidence linking the Patel brothers to Itowala’s murder.
He further said it was highly unusual that criminal investigations department (CID) chief for Lusaka could be summoned by a private individual to pick up a person Tofik Danga already on the police wanted list.
“The conspirators had nothing to fear and they cared less. They committed the offence in broad day light and as far as they were concerned, they are rich and powerful and played a game of being connected to police officers and even had a lawyer,” judge Phiri said.
He said the conspiracy leading to Itowala’s death was deep and that justice would be well served if all those named in the conspiracy are given their day in court to explain.
Mohan’s lawyer Bonaventure Mutale told the court that his client would give evidence on oath and intended to call a number of witnesses.
Mumba Kapumpa who is representing the Patel brothers said his clients were not sure whether to give evidence on oath or remain silent and asked for an adjournment to decide on the way to proceed with the matter.
Judge Phiri has adjourned the matter to October 18 and 19, 2010 for defence.
Labels: COURTS, INKTEK, MOHAN MATTHEWS, MURDER
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Dr Musonda committed to High Court for shooting PF cadre
By Mwala Kalaluka in Serenje
Fri 02 July 2010, 17:20 CAT
FIRED health deputy minister Dr Solomon Musonda had a tough time detaching himself from a group of red-card flashing and chanting PF cadres that besieged him immediately after the case in which he is charged for shooting a PF cadre was committed to the Kabwe High Court today.
Kabwe principal resident magistrate Joshua Banda sitting as a magistrate in Serenje this morning committed Dr Musonda’s shooting case to the High Court based on the strength of a certificate of commitment from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga.
Dr Musonda, a 34-year-old medical doctor and politician, and a resident of Nsumbu road in Lusaka’s Woodlands area stands charged with one count of causing grievous harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable contrary to section 244 (a) of the Penal Code.
Particulars of the offence are that Dr Musonda on June 1, 2010 with intent to maim, disfigure or disable caused grievous harm to Jackson Musaka.
When the matter came up in the Serenje Magistrates’ Court this morning, Central Province Division Prosecution Officer (DPO) Hilda Banda said it was coming for the explanation of the charge.
She said the state was ready with the instructions so that the case was committed to the High Court.
Before that magistrate Banda had explained the charge to Dr Musonda although Lusaka chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda had explained the same to him when he appeared before him.
Magistrate Banda said DPP in his own discretion thought that Dr Musonda’s case was a proper case for the High Court.
“I hereby commit you accused to the Kabwe High Court,” magistrate Banda said.
Magistrate Banda said High Court judge Timothy Katanekwa would hear Dr Musonda’s case at the next criminal session in Kabwe.
A good number of PF-UPND pact cadres had attended the court hearing and they listened attentively as proceedings went on inside the small courtroom.
However, as soon as the matter was adjourned and Dr Musonda and his lawyer Sunday Nkonde were about to emerge from the courtroom, the PF cadres started flashing red cards whilst shouting, “Musonda out, Musonda out” and “Musonda criminal”.
As Dr Musonda and a paltry size of MMD cadres came out of the courtroom, the flashing of red cards intensified and the PF cadres surged towards the court’s steep veranda stepping up their chanting and flashing red cards in Dr Musonda’s direction.
Dr Musonda greeted one of his sympathizers as the PF cadres led by some women advanced in his direction whilst another blew a red whistle in his face.
A sizeable number of police officers were by now standing at a safe distance monitoring the situation as Dr Musonda with difficulty went towards his Nissan Hard body vehicle, which was parked in the vicinity.
Some of the outnumbered MMD cadres started raising their party symbol in solidarity with Dr Musonda but the PF cadres started banging on Dr Musonda’s vehicle immediately after he had entered it with his lawyer.
Dr Musonda, who was driving himself, had problems getting away from the confusion and it only took police intervention before he could hastily drive away from the scene that had attracted some attention from passersby.
Labels: CADRES, MURDER, SOLOMON MUSONDA
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COMMENT - " causing harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable " or
kill, which is the anticipated consequence of shooting someone in the head. I can understand it when there is not enough evidence to bring a stronger charge, like when intent is unclear and there are mitigating circumstances. Let's just hope that that's the case, and the law is not going easier on dr. Musonda because he is a member of the government.
Dr. Musonda’s charge too lenient says PF
Saturday, June 19, 2010, 8:30
The Patriotic Front (PF) has expressed disappointment at the Director of Public Prosecutions DPP’s decision to slap former Deputy Health Minister Dr Solomon Musonda with a lesser charge of
causing harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable instead of charging him with attempted murder.
PF National Youth Chairman Eric Chanda said the charge slapped on Dr Musonda is tantamount to assault. Mr Chanda told QFM in an interview that the party is disappointed with the way the DPP is handling the case.
He said the offence committed by Dr Musonda is serious and that he deserves a serious charge.
Mr Chanda has since called on the DPP to consider slapping Dr Musonda with a stiffer charge and not the charge of causing grievous harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable.
Dr Musonda shot and wounded Jackson Musaka a resident of Chitambo in Serenje district.
[ QFM ]
Labels: MURDER, SOLOMON MUSONDA
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Dr Musonda deserved attempted murder charge - Sata
By George Chellah
Sat 19 June 2010, 04:00 CAT
Dr Solomon Musonda with his lawyers at the Lusaka magistrate courts yesterday
Labels: MURDER, SATA, SOLOMON MUSONDA
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