Treason accused freed
A LUSAKA business executive accused of plotting to assassinate President Edgar Lungu and some senior government officials has been discharged on a nolle prosequi.
Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale yesterday discharged Mwangala Ngalande, 58, of plot number 7 Ben Bella Road Roma Township in Lusaka, following a nolle prosequi from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
When the case came up yesterday for continued preliminary inquiry, public prosecutor Juvenalis Kamutondole informed the court that the prosecution had received the nolle from the DPP to discontinue proceedings against Mr. Ngalande.
Mr. Mwale subsequently discharged Mr. Ngalande who had been in custody since November 26, 2019.
His lawyer Martha Mushipe had applied to the court for a preliminary inquiry to establish whether there was enough evidence against her client to warrant his committal to the High Court for trial.
After his discharge, Mr. Ngalande, who is also a United Party for National Development (UPND member, described his arrest and detention as a case of persecution since there was allegedly nothing on the ground.
“There was nothing else they could do. I feel well but I feel have been battered too much and we will see as the days go by,” he said. According to the indictment, Mr. Ngalande was accused of plotting to assassinate President Lungu, defence chiefs, minister of Defence Davis Chama, Chief Justice Irene Mambilima, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Patrick Matibini, and his deputy Catherine Namugala on the National Day of Prayer and Independence Day.
He was charged with one count of treason accompanied by three overt acts. It is alleged that between August 1, 2019 and December 1, 2019 in Lusaka jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown Mr. Mwangala endavoured to overthrow by unlawful means the Government of the Republic of Zambia as established by the law.
In the first overt act, he was accused of conspiring with one
Simon Njobvu to procure military equipment namely AK47 assault rifles, pistols and rocket propelled grenades for the purpose of assassinating President Lungu and the senior government officials.
In the second overt act Mr. Ngalande between the same dates was alleged to have conspired with Mr. Njobvu to source international funding and actually obtained US$1.6 million to be utilised in the over throwing of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
He was further accused of recruiting 10 people to execute the plan after some military training.