MP Mukata, girlfriend, deny murder charge

By CHINTU MALAMBO UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) Chilanga Member of Parliament, Keith Mukata and girlfriend Charmaine Musonda have pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

Before High Court Judge Susan Wanjelani, Mukata and Musonda denied having committed the offence when the matter came up for plea in court.

They are accused to have killed Mr Namakau Kwenda, 63, of Lusaka's Ng'ombe township, an employee of Men in Black Security Company.

Particulars are that on 6th May 2017, police picked up Mr Mukata and Musonda and later on May 11th jointly charged them with murder contrary to section 200 of Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that the duo shot Kwenda at house number 4, Alex Masala Road in Rho

AKM Legal Practitioners, the

kata.

Mr Mukata is represented by state counsel Eric Silwamba and trial has since been set to commence tomorrow.

Meanwhile, murder accused Tshabu Benos pleaded not guilty to the murder of her lover Reeves Malambo.

Benos, 38 is alleged to have stabbed Malambo, 48, who was also Auto Force proprietor between 29th and 30th January

Ibex Hill.

She is believed to have stabbed Mr Malambo with a knife on the upper part of his body.

Whilst on the stand, Benos told High Court Judge Gertrude Chawatama that she understood the charge but denied the offence. Trial commences on 11 September, 2017.

In the same court, a 26-yearold woman of Lusaka's Matero Township, Mirriam Mulenga, alleged to have killed her two children by giving them an insecticide Doom also pleaded not guilty to the charge.