FORMER 2019 saw the conviction of President Edgar Lungu’s barber for the murder of a United Party for National Development (UPND) supporter.
Lawrence Banda is thought to have been killed in Kaoma district by Shebby Chilekwa.
Nevertheless, yesterday’s nolle prosequi, which was entered before judgment, allowed Mumbi Phiri, Chilekwa’s co-accused and a former deputy secretary general for the Patriotic Front (PF), to walk free.
Details of the case include that Phiri and Chilekwa, acting in concert, are accused of killing Lawrence Banda on October 6, 2019, in Kaoma.
The two were charged with murdering Mr. Banda, a supporter of the UPND.
The case against Phiri, however, was dropped after a nolle prosequi was entered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“I Kayoka Sifali, Senior State Advocate, on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Republic of Zambia, pursuant to the powers vested in me by Sections 81 and 82 of The Criminal Procedure Code do authorise the entry in record of proceedings that proceedings are discontinued against Josephine Mumbi Phiri,” he said.
Yet in the case of Chilekwa, Mongu High Court judge Mr. Justice Charles Zulu declared after a three-hour trial that the prosecution’s case had been established beyond a reasonable doubt and that Chilekwa was convicted of murder.
At roughly 10:00 a.m. today, when sentencing is supposed to happen, Chilekwa will learn his destiny.
