Nchelenge magistrate court puts two on their defence for criminal trespass

The Nchelenge magistrates court has found two men accused of criminal trespass at Chief Mununga’s palace with a case to answer.

Magistrate Fred Musaka has put Victor Musonda Mununga and Boston Chishimba on their defence following the end of submissions of evidence against the pair by the state.

This is in a case in which  the duo has been jointly charged with criminal trespass
following an incident on the 3rd May this year where the two, in the company of other unknown people, entered the chief’s palace without his consent.

Magistrate Musaka said the evidence tendered in court by the state has implicated
Musonda Mununga and Chishimba in the case compelling him to put the duo on their
defence.

Both the accused elected to give sworn evidence. Mununga will call four witneses while Chishimba has none.

Among the witnesses brought in by the state was senior Chief Mununga of the Shila
people who testified how the duo  in the company of other people, forcibly entered
his palace.

The Chief said Musonda Mununga who was claiming to be the rightful heir to be
Mununga throne arrived at the palace with a truck and started banging the gate
demanding to have an audience with him.

He said after being denied entry into the palace,  Musonda Mununga and his group forced his way into the palace grounds and settled in one of the Chief’s huts.

He said 10 minutes after Musonda and his group entered the palace, a group of Mununga residents who were in his support, also came in to boo Musonda and his group.

When asked to identify  the duo, the Chief only pointed out Musonda but failed to identify Chishimba adding that he did not see him at the palace but he was named by sub chief Mutampuka who was also present at the palace on the material date.

During cross examination, magistrate Musaka had on several occasions to advise the
two parties to dwell on the matter of criminal trespass and not on who is the rightful heir to the throne.

But Musonda wondered why he could not access the palace since he is a grandson of the Chief and he belongs to the royal family.

And Chishimba wondered why he was in court when the Chief had failed to identify him
and had stated that he had never seen him before.

The mater has been adjourned to 12th June for defence.