A 20 Grade 12 pupil of Jonathan Sim Secondary School in Kalomo yesterday told the Choma Magistrates Court that he beat up his deputy head teacher because he [teacher] allegedly repeatedly hit his friend with an iron bar, leaving him unconscious.Eddy Simalezu and his two friends, Kingstone Malambo, 22, and a juvenile, all of the same school, are charged with assault.

Particulars are that on March 7 last year, the three pupils allegedly beat up their deputy head teacher, Merciless Ngongola, after he tried to discipline them. When the matter came up for defence before magistrate Muyambango Munukayumbwa, Simalezu told the court that he beat up Mr Ngongola to save Malambo’s life.

“My friend [the juvenile] came to the hostels crying stating that Mr Ngongola beat him because he [juvenile] allegedly poured water on other pupils, so Malambo and I decided to visit Mr Ngongola’s office to defend the boy,” he said.

Simalezu said when the trio confronted Mr Ngongola over the matter, he allegedly harassed Malambo and dragged him into his office.
“He tore Malambo’s shirt and dragged him into his office for about five minutes. “When Malambo was released, Mr Ngongola followed him as he was leaving the office and hit him with a metal bar,” Simalezu said.

He told the court Mr Ngongola allegedly hit Malambo three times on different parts of the body until he fainted. “Despite my friend being unconscious, Mr Ngongola wanted to hit him again, and so I punched him to save my friend. When I threw the punch at him, he fell down and that is how the young boy managed to grab the metal bar from him,” he said.

Simalezu said after sometime, Mr Ngongola returned to his office while Malambo was rushed to the clinic. He said the trio left the school but were arrested the following day for assaulting Mr Ngongola, who is said to have been admitted to Macha Mission Hospital in Choma.

In his submission, Mr Ngongola said he was beaten by all three boys and submitted pictures as proof of having been left unconscious.
The matter has been adjourned to February 4