Miniskirt girl free at last

THE State has dropped thecharge that was slapped on a girl and her aunt after they were discharged in an earlier case where they were facing one count of idle and disorderly persons.

In this case, the 16-year- old girl and her aunt Mirriam Mwanza, 28, were charged after the latter allegedly rudely answered a police officer who questioned the length of her

niece’s skirt.

It was alleged that on December 22, 2018, the officer questioned the girl’s miniskirt as she and Mwanza passed by Kamanga police post but Mwanza allegedly asked the officer as to why she did not ask others in similar attire. This angered the officer, leading to the duo’s arrest and detention for over a week. After the two denied the charge before Magistrate Nsunge Chanda, the State dropped the matter but Mwanza and the girl were later rearrested for alleged malicious damage to property. Particulars of offence were that Mwanza and her niece damaged two locks worth

K70, property of Zambia Police Service, as they allegedly attempted to escape from detention.

After the accused persons denied the charge before Magistrate Rachel Mwansa Statachi last month, the court asked the prosecution if they would proceed to trial over property worth K70. Ms. Statachi advised the parties to consider plea bargaining or reconciliation. When the matter came up yesterday for possible commencement of trial, a public prosecutor informed the court that the State had decided to withdraw the matter, after which the court discharged the accused persons.