Lack of logistics drags sodomy trial
SODOMY trial has failed to take off in the Kabwe Magistrates’ Court because the Chisamba-based trial Magistrate has not been funded for his logistics.
The long-awaited trial was scheduled to open yesterday but Magistrate Trevor Kasanda could not travel because the State had not yet funded his stay in Kabwe for the matter.
In this case, Brian Bwalya Kalonga, 36, has been charged for four counts of unnatural ŏences, contrary to Section 155 (a) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia as amended by Act number 15 of 2005.
Kalonga, a teacher at Chisamba’s Anchorage Secondary School where he is alleged to have sodomised the victims, is accused of having carnal knowledge of four boys against the order of nature between January 2, 2017 and April 30, 2018.
,n the fifth count, Kalonga has been charged for attempting to commit unnatural ŏences, contrary to Section 156 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia as amended by Act number 15 of 2005.
Particulars were that between the same dates, he attempted to have carnal knowledge of a named boy against the order of nature.
In the remaining 11 counts, Kalonga has been charged for indecent practices between persons of the same sex, contrary to Section 158 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia as amended by Act number 15 of 2005.
The case was mentioned yesterday before Kabwe Magistrate Sebastian Mwenya and Kalonga was not present in court as he was still in custody, following Magistrate Kasanda’s decision to deny him bail after he denied all the 16 counts in Chisamba last month.
Kalonga has been denied bail on grounds that there was a high likelihood of him interfering with witnesses, who are pupils at Anchorage Secondary School where he works.
A source close to the case yesterday disclosed that there were plans to adjourn the matter to next week but most of the witnesses (also victims) will be sitting for mock examinations.
The State has since settled for July 31, 2018 as date for another mention and August 14, 2018 for commencement of trial.