Court acquits 7 NRDC students

THE Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has acquitted seven Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) students on one count of malicious damage to property belonging to the institution.

Magistrate Mwandu Sakala acquitted the accused persons yesterday after NRDC management withdrew the complaint against them and opted to pursue the issue administratively. In this case Peter Tembo, 21, Peter Mwenya, 22, Benjamin Musonda, 23, Jacob Mpepo, 22, Given Nyimbiri, 24, Sonkani Mhone, 20, and James Fungaloko, 21, all students of NRDC were charged with one count of malicious damage to property, contrary to Section 335 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Particulars of the offence were that the accused students on August 20, 2018 in Lusaka, damaged two hostel glass window panes and a rear windscreen of a motor vehicle registration number BAD 1121 altogether valued at K13, 500, the property of NRDC. After all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge, the State informed Magistrate Sakala that a representative of NRDC wished to address the court. NRDC Registrar Manda Sinkala, 47, then informed the court that after consultations with various stakeholders, the institution had decided to withdraw the matter so that it could deal with it administratively. Mr Sinkala said the institution was aware it was dealing with students and that handling the matter administratively would be more convenient to everyone involved. “After extensive consultation with stakeholders, we wish to withdraw the matter so that it can be handled administratively. The institution is considerate that it is dealing with students and we find it fit that it would be more convenient for both parties,” he said. The State did not object and Ms Sakala acquitted the accused person in line with Section 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code. In another court, a 48-yearold businessman of Lusaka’s Makeni Konga area has pleaded not guilty to two counts of theft of over K260, 000 cash belonging to late President Michael Sata’s daughter Mwelwa Nsaka Sata. The accused person Masulani Mazyopa has also pleaded not guilty to one count of obtaining money by false pretence. In count one it is alleged that Mazyopa, who was engaged as rentals collector by Ms. Sata, stole K143, 500 cash which was given to him by Rhoda Kunda Mwale to deliver to Ms. Sata between June 1, 2016 and February 28, 2018 in Lusaka. In count two, the allegation is that between the same dates in Lusaka, Mazyopa, in his same capacity as rentals collector, stole K136, 500 cash which was given to him by Ms Mwale to deliver the said cash to Ms. Sata. In the third count it is alleged that between the same dates in Lusaka with intent to defraud, the accused person obtained K22, 000 from Ms. Sata by falsely pretending that it was meant for paying the garden boy when in fact not.