Murder case: UPND cadres have case to answer
By CHINTU MALAMBO THE Lusaka High Court has found two suspected UPND cardres with a case to answer in a matter in which they are accused of murdering a PF member during a failed UPND rally in Kanyama last year.
High Court judge Mwamba Chanda placed James Banda, 23, and Fabian Mwanza, 23, on their defence after she found them with a case to answer in the alleged murder of Steven Kalipa, 20.
The prosecution concluded its evidence with seven witnesses who all testified that Mr Kalipa was allegedly stubbed by the duo.
During trial, a witness, John Mulanishako, a resident of Kanyama narrated that on April 2 2017, while he was conducting his business at Mbasela market in Kanyama, he saw a group of people clad in UPND regalia running from the entrance of the market to the opposite direction.
Mulanishako told the court that he rushed out to see who they were and he managed to identify the people who were in front because they lived in the same area.
He told the court that about 12 metres from where he was standing, the alleged UPND carders met Kalipa whom they started confronting and when they tried to get hold of him, he started running.
Mr Mulanishako further testified that Kalipa run to an open area and it was there that junior Mbuzi (Fabian Mwanza) picked a stone and hit Kalipa on the back bone.
He further testified that Kalipa started limping and stopped running then 'Menomeno' (James Banda) produced a knife from his pocket and stabbed him.
Mr Mulanishako told the court that the duo then dragged Kalipa against the wall and left him there.
The incident happened in Kanyama Township on April 2, 2017, after a UPND rally was aborted.
The duo is also facing another charge of possession of offensive materials.
It is alleged that one of the accused person was found with a sharp metal instrument on his waist.