TH E L u s a k a M a g i s t r a t e ’ s Court has heard that a 27-year-old vendor allegedly s p r a y e d a n unknown poisonous substance on a woman while she was sleeping in a shop. John Banda, of Ng’ombe Township in Lusaka, is charged with maliciously administering poison with intent to harm. It is alleged that on February 17 this year, in Lusaka, Banda unlawfully, and with intent t o i n j u r e M a r y K a p a m a , administered an unknown poison which endangered Ms Kapama’s life.

It is alleged that on the material day, Ms Kapama was sleeping in a shop in Kasisi Township when Banda allegedly sprayed an unknown substance in the room, leaving the woman unconscious. She was only rescued by her husband, who later reported the matter to the police. When the case came up before chief resident magistrate Lameck Mwale, Banda, who is in remand, was not before court.

Magistrate Mwale allocated the matter to magistrate Ammie Masoja. Meanwhile, magistrate Mwale yesterday ordered the Legal Aid Board to represent 17 men arrested for rioting over gassing of homes to expedite prosecution of the case. This is in a case the 18 accused persons of Kanyama and Makeni Villa Townships have been taken to court for rioting and damaging property in relation to gassing of homes in their townships. The accused are Clement Lwabila, Saidi Miti, Micheal Bailack, Mark Kapalu, Lovemore Siajitunta, Cephas Mulayi, Rodgers Mwape, Harrison Mwalusaka and Joseph Phiri. Others are Peter Kindalo, Martin Ngulube, Alex Phiri, Simon Mumba, Clinton Ngube, Shadrick Mulongo, Bruce Mwelwa, Benson Mwansa and Point Mwanza, all aged between 20 and 40.

It is alleged that on February 13 this year, the 18, being in a riotous assembly, unlawfully damaged a house and a Toyota Land Cruiser in Kanyama police camp belonging to the Zambia Police Service. When the matter came up for continued trial, magistrate Mwale was concerned that the court was spending too much time by allowing each accused person to cross-examine a witness. This is because only one of the accused is being represented by a lawyer. Magistrate Mwale then ordered that the Legal Aid Board lawyer should represent the other accused persons at the next sitting on March 31 this year.

And as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, all witnesses appearing before Lusaka Magistrate Annie Holland are being sanitised before taking oath. When a witness stood in the dock to testify before magistrate Holland on Monday, a court interpreter was seen handing over liquid soap to sanitise hands before holding the Bible. But a check in other courts found that magistrate Holland’s initiative was not replicated.