By CHARLES MUSONDA
THE Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has threatened to throw out the case in which Patriotic Front cadre Innocent Kalimanshi and three others have been charged with criminal trespass and assault if PF Secretary-General Davis Mwila and other witnesses do not appear at the next sitting.
Magistrate Felix Kaoma issued the warning yesterday after public prosecutor Peter Imanga told the court that there have been challenges in bringing Mr. Mwila as a witness in the matter that arose from violence that happened at the PF secretariat on May 1, 2021 when former National Democratic Congress leader Chishimba Kambwili went to rejoin the PF.
Mr. Imanga said the accused persons’ file was still with the Chief Resident Magistrate and that it has been difficult to bring Mr. Mwila to testify in the case.
In his ruling, Mr. Kaoma said he will throw out the case if Mr. Mwila and other witnesses who are supposed to be on the stand will not be available at the next sitting.
Kalimanshi, 40, is charged with Donald Kampamba, 46, James Sakala, 43 and Samuel Kabalamwe, 42, all business executives, for criminal trespass while Kalimanshi is also charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In count one, it is alleged that Kalimanshi, Kampamba, Sakala, and Kabalamwe on May 1, 2021 in Lusaka, entered upon the premises of the PF secretariat with intent to annoy.
In counts two and three, Kalimanshi is on the same day alleged to have assaulted Theresa Sampa and Hellen Mwansa thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm.
The accused persons have pleaded not guilty and Mr. Kaoma granted them K10, 000 cash bail each but Kalimanshi is still in custody for drug trafficking and possession of offensive weapons in the case he is charged with 27 others.
The trespass and assault case has been adjourned to October 13, 2021
