Farmer in vehicle ownership change poser
…the vehicle was bought from murder convict Precious Longwe
By NATION REPORTER I HAVE been unable to change ownership of the motor vehicle I bought from Precious Longwe because of her incarceration, a farmer told the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Testifying in a case where Longwe has been put on her defence for alleged theft of K200, 000 from her former employer BancABC, Leonard Banda, 52, said on May 20, 2016 he bought a Toyota IST registration number ALT 642 worth K82, 000 from her.
Mr Banda said two days later he travelled to Sinda to harvest his crops and when he returned to Lusaka he tried to contact Longwe.
“Her father called to tell me that she was in the hands of the police. He gave me the registration certificate for the vehicle,” Mr. Banda said.
In cross examination by the State, the defence witness said he had failed to change ownership of the vehicle because Longwe was supposed to authorise the change.
“I never went to RTSA (Road Transport and Safety Agency) because her father told me to give them time. I tried to see Precious Longwe and I only saw her through the wire because she was in prison. The seller of the motor vehicle is supposed to authorise the buyer to change ownership of the vehicle. I will change ownership when she authorises me,” Mr. Banda said.
Asked if he knew that it was an offence to own a motor vehicle whose ownership was not changed, Mr. Banda said he did not.
“My story can be believed because of the documents I have brought. Now that Precious Longwe is in jail, I will change ownership after her matters are concluded,” he said.
And defence lawyer Osborne Ngoma informed Magistrate Nthandose Chabala that he had issued summons to a witness from RTSA but did not specify the court and that if the defence fails to secure the said witness at the next sitting, they may close the case.