Gun retrieved from Kaoma crime scene belonged to UPND cadre – witnesses

By NATION REPORTER

A GUN belonging to a UPND cadre, Chola Simwaba, a former Zambia Army officer was the only weapon that was retrieved from the scene of crime in Kaoma from which Lawrence Banda, the UPND member is believed to have been shot dead, two former senior police officers have told the Mongu High Court.

The two former police officers who delivered their testimony yesterday were Deputy Director Criminal Investigations Department, Simon Tembo and Director Criminal Investigations at Police Headquarters Michael Nsofwa.

Mr Tembo, who was Senior Assistant Commissioner of police testified that he was sent to Kaoma by his supervisor to follow up the murder case of Lawrence Banda because the matter had stalled.

He explained to the court that he was also directed to constitute a team of officers from various departments with different expertise to be part of the travelling team to Kaoma to investigate the matter.

Tembo said when he arrived he went through the dockets and found that there were two dockets one for attempted murder whose suspect was a Chola (Simwaba) and the other one of murder of Lawrence Banda whose suspects were unknown people.

He explained that he was also briefed that the dealing officer in the matter who was DCIO of Kaoma Donald Mulimba had difficulties to get a report from a senior police officer in Mongu, identified as Chipasha, which led to the delay in the conclusion of investigations.

Mr Tembo informed the court that when he travelled to Kaoma with his newly constituted team, he visited both scenes for reconstruction where he noted that the shooting was a continuous process.

When asked by Defence lawyer Jonas Zimba what he meant, Tembo said it was clear from the scenes that the same people who were found at the first scene were the same people at the second scene.

He also told Court that the same people who were at the first scene were the same people that apprehended Chola Simwaba and recovered a gun and cartridges.