Chief Liteta beat me, says wife
CHIEF Liteta’s wife Prisca Malembeka has testified before court that her husband assaulted her following a misunderstanding at home.
This is in a matter in which Ms. Malembeka has complained of assault occasioning actual bodily by her husband Charles Mulando (Chief Liteta), contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Ms. Malembeka, 46, of Kampekete village in Chief Liteta’s area of Chibombo district, told Kabwe Magistrate Daniel Musonda during trial yesterday that Mr Mulando beat her until she bled for denying a village headman, only identified as Mr. Chali, entry into the couple’s house.
She testified that Mr Mulando insulted and beat her using his hands for refusing Mr Chali entry into the house to change doors as he had been instructed.
“My husband insulted me saying I am just a wife after nshima, in the presence of Mr Chali because I refused to allow him to change doors to the house.
“My husband then pushed me and as I was trying to give him way, Mr Chali held me and then he (Mr. Mulando) started beating me all over the body especially the head, pulling my hair and I started bleeding,” Ms. Malembeka said.
She said after the incident, she went to bath after which three headmen went to plead with her not to report the matter to police as the Chief was going through a rough time but she refused.
“I went to Kabwe Central police to report the matter before going to Kabwe Mine Hospital where I was given a medical report and treated,” she said.
In cross examination, defence lawyer, In’utu Suuba of Suuba and Associates asked Ms. Malembeka if it was not true that she had been brutalising her husband for eight years but she denied.
Ms. Suuba later showed Ms. Malembeka Mr. Mulando’s picture, indicating bruises he suffered at her hands, for her to identify.
She could however not identify the person in the picture as she did not have her glasses on.
The defence then asked the court to adjourn the matter to a later date to allow the plaintiff secure glasses that she would use to identify the person in the picture.
Magistrate Musonda then adjourned the matter to today for continued trial.