By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
A 23- year- old female student and three male accomplices charged with the murder of Veterinary doctor, Evans Mwape Mwengwe have denied committing the offence.
The quartet has also denied the charge in count two of aggravated robbery.
Doris Nduba, a student of Ibex Hill, Kenani Jere, 23 of Katondo Street, Keegan Zulu, 38, a businessman of Chalala and Josat Tembo, 42, a mechanic of Chilenje are charged with murder and aggravated robbery.
The accused persons are alleged to have killed Dr Mwengwe after he offered them a lift from Kabwe.
In count one it is alleged that Nduba, Jere, Zulu and Tembo between June 10, 2021 and June 12, 2021 at Lusaka jointly and whilst acting together murdered Dr Mwengwe.
In count two, the four are alleged to have stolen Dr Mwengwe’s Infinix phone valued at K5,000, one Mac book laptop valued at K23,800, two bags of maize valued at K300 and his Mercedes Benz, ML320 registration No. BAB 2838 valued at USD14, 500 by threatening or using actual violence during the attack.
His partially burnt body was found in Lusaka’s Kabangwe area.
However, the four who appeared before Lusaka High Court Judge Joshua Banda all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The matter was adjourned to November 9, this year for start of trial.
Meanwhile, Zambia Correctional Service (ZSC) informed the Court that as at 06:30 hours yesterday, Lusaka Province had a total of 3,146 inmates in its prison facilities.
Lusaka Central Correctional Facility officer in charge Senior Superintendent Teddy Silwamba said that ZSC was still grappling with the issue of congestion as Lusaka has a holding capacity of 1,040 inmates.
Mr Silwamba however said that the issue of congestion at Kamwala Remand and Lusaka Central facilities would soon be sorted out once the contractor hands over Mwembeshi Remand Prison and Correction Centre in Chilanga District .
He also stated that in as much as the Covid-19 rule of social distance was impossible to adhere due to congestion, the prisoners and staffs were responding well to the on-going vaccination programme.
