OPPOSITION Patriotic Front (PF) Nkana Member of Parliament Mwenya Musenge yesterday pleaded not guilty in the Kitwe magistrates’ court to the charge of riotous behaviour. Musenge, who was denied police bond at the weekend was, however, granted bail by the court in the sum of K15 million in his own recognisance.
Musenge, 46, of house number 18, Twalishuka Close in Parklands, Kiwe, is jointly charged with six other men who also denied the same charge. These are David Katongo, 38, of house number B6/130, Wusakili Township, Patrick Chongo, 22, of house number 8, Mangwana and Evans Witika, 38, of plot number 1531, Bulangililo Township.
Others are Chrispine Musuka, 36, of house number 1566, New Ndeke, Jonathan Manda, 23, of house number 456, Twatasha Township and Steward Mushota of house number 162, Buchi.Particulars of the offence are that on January 7, 2010, Musenge and his six co-accused unlawfully assembled and damaged the property of the Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA) neighbourhood watch.
Senior resident magistrate, Tamara Gondwe granted the seven bail after their lawyers applied for it. She granted them bail of K15 million in their own recognisance with three working sureties each in managerial positions to sign in their own recognisance.
When the three lawyers representing all seven accused persons applied for bail, they said the offence that their clients were facing was bailable and that they had cooperated with the police from the time they were summoned.
The lawyers said their clients would not jump bail, hence the need for the court to grant them bail. The State did not object to the application for bail but said the court must give conditions that were suitable to all parties. The State said the court should also warn the accused persons not to interfere with State witnesses if granted bail by the court. The matter was adjourned to January 26 for mention and trial would commence on February 11 and 12, 2010.
Meanwhile, confusion took centre stage outside the court premises as scores of overzealous PF cadres converged and started chanting slogans while displaying their party symbol. The cadres, who were clad in PF T-shirts and Chitenge material, started daring the police over the detention of Mr Musenge. After Mr Musenge was granted bail, the cadres demanded to have the MP handed over to them even before paper work for bail conditions could be finalised.
In the same court, three ZANAMA officials who were alleged to have murdered a marketeer appeared before Ms Gondwe.
The three are charged with murdering Charles Chola, a marketeer at Chisokone Market. The three are Dennis Phiri, 37, of house number 1727, Mulenga Township, George Daka, 27, and Peter Mbale of house number 345, Ndeke Township.
Particulars of the offence are that between December 27,2010 and January 3, 2010 the trio allegedly murdered Chola. The matter was adjourned to January 26, 2010 for mention as the State awaits for instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Last week, marketeers rioted destroying a ZANAMA office after Chola, who was alleged to have been beaten by the three accused persons, died.
[Times of Zambia]
As usual, cases instigated by RB don’t go anywhere!
Now why LT has not mentioned the bail of the ZANAMA members accused of murder is because these chaps have been bailed without conditions requiring surities to be at managerial level. Shame.
# 2, Good morning. I thought the case of those chaps accussed of murder was committed to the high court? Have they also been granted bail?
Morning Ba Moze. These have not yet been committed to the high court- Ring any one in Kitwe to confirm.
This is a clear case of political harrasment of the opposition..You will see the publicity and manupilation of this case just becoz a PF man is involved. These circus only happens in Zambia..NALEKA !!!
Deja Vu. is it fat or fiction that they have been released.
Tombolilo, # well lets think this thru. Are you sure that Musenge never involved in riotus behavior. ? Lets wait and see what evidence goes to court. If you leave in Zambia, I am sure you know how unruly cadres from the most political parties especially PF and MMD . Hooliganism is not in any way a preserve of MMD. PF is just as bad. So I am not surprised when a member of parliament is accused of riotus behavior. I just hope this is not malicious prosecution
#6 Positivist pa – Has the report said they were remanded in custody? Mwana me I am in Kitwe, Zambia so I see what is not reported. Even today most stall are closed at Chisokone, which you you dont know. By the way did you know that MMD provided transport for the arrest and trip to Kamfinsa remand? All this stinks. Have you ever heard of a condition where only managers are required as surities for bail conditions? What matters is the ability to raise the money- for instance me Iam not a manager, but I have more than K15m in the bank while my monthly pay is over K10m so cant I be a surity- am also in permanent employment
Really its polical persecution where the mudderers are treated with love ….only in Zambia
Besides which MANAGER can risky his job by signing bail for perceived anti GRZ elements- it is just a trick to keep these guys away forever
Phiri, Daka and Mbale are the chaps who are supposed to be in the news. Having Mwenya Musenge arrested is political persecution and diverting efforts of from the real culprits. Getting to the core of things is the best solution. What was there first was a MURDER, then people reacted. So sort out the murderers then justice will prevail.
we are coming, the PF UPND PACT is coming you can persecute us, but we wont stop,
Gents, do not forget that UNIP is back in power.Even the stonch MMD members are hard to be heard.Continue doing all this rubbish for now, we are waiting for 2011.No overlapping of votes this time coz southern provice and western provices will provide the defence.Takuli uku jombolola this time.Viva Pact
musenge must be praised for standing up against this nkandu who banda likened to malema.he is a tomato seller halucinating
Scrabble for chisokone.Sata demolished it he wanted the land.Nkanda is ripping were he did not sow by transforming ZANAMA into MMD Puppet.He likes violence.MP Musenge and Sata have been eyeing this land with prospect of getting a cut for many years. Especially Musenge who always had to hire the venue nearby to stage his boxing promotion fights. Leaves no doubt to box someone over it.Mayor simwinga is the major player insighting brutal deaths and threats. A place we all dreamt to be a trading place has turned into a war zone….No heart and respect for women and men who want to trade peaceful. I HOPE TO SEE CHANGE AND RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS and not lifting fists high.Its hard to describe your actions and leaves me no choice at condemning you.CHANGE IS VITAL IN EVERY MAN’S.