The Lusaka Magistrate’s Court has ordered a man of John Laing to pay his son-in-law K500 as compensation for beating him after demanding a K120 salary from him. Charles Ndlovu, 23, dragged Prosper Chabu, his father-in-law, to court for assault. Chabu, 29, of the same area, allegedly assaulted Ndhlovu, the husband to his stepdaughter, and occasioned him actual bodily harm on August 8 this year.

Ndhlovu demanded K120 for the services he rendered to his father-in-law at his bar, where he was employed as a general worker.
When the matter came up for trial before magistrate Nsunge Chanda on Monday, Ndhlovu applied for the discontinuation of the matter. “This man [Chabu] is my father-in-law. I have forgiven him,” Ndhlovu said in Bemba.

He, however, asked the court to order Chabu to pay K120 owed to him. This was after Ms Chanda asked whether he wanted any compensation from Chabu. Asked whether he was comfortable with the condition of the forgiveness, Chabu replied in the positive. The magistrate then ordered the duo to openly reconcile in front of the gallery.

Before shaking hands as a sign of reconciliation, Chabu asked for Ndlovu’s forgiveness and promised never to be violent towards him. “I will never repeat what I did,” Chabu said. Magistrate Chanda then reconciled the duo and granted Ndlovu’s application. “I reconcile the two parties since the offence is a misdemeanour [a criminal offence that is less serious]. Accused [Chabu] will compensate you [Ndlovu] for what you spent at the hospital [after being assaulted],” he said.

Magistrate Chanda also ordered Chabu to pay the K120 he owes Ndlovu plus a K500. Meanwhile, a 34-year-old businessman of Lusaka has been taken to court for allegedly stealing over K30, 000 realised from the sale of 49 bags of beans and kapenta which were entrusted to him by his business partners.

Hope Sinkamba, 34, of Garden House area in Kanyama township, is charged with four counts of theft by agent.
On May 28 this year, Sinkamba allegedly stole K8,400 realised from the sale of 12 bags of kapenta entrusted to him by Victor Siame to sell on his behalf.

It is also alleged that on June 4 this year, Sinkamba stole K4,500 realised from the sale of kapenta, the property of Angela Bwalya.
In the third count, it is alleged that on May 28 this year, Sinkamba stole K19,500 realised from the sale of 25 bags of beans entrusted to him by John Siyanda for sale.

In the fourth count, it is alleged that on April 28 this year, Sinkamba stole K6,300 realised from the sale of nine bags of beans entrusted to him by Simon Simpasa for sale.When the matter came up for plea on Monday before magistrate Nsunge Chanda, Sinkamba denied the charge and applied for  bail, which was granted to him in the sum of K10,000 plus two working sureties.