Court frees three PF members

THREE Patriotic Front members have been discharged on a nolle prosequi in a case they were charged with assaulting three other members during intra-party elections in March this year in Lusaka.

The three, who were facing three counts of assault, were freed yesterday after the State entered a nolle prosequi following instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

PF Mandevu constituency youth chairperson, Cliff Bwalya 45, of Chaisa compound, Mandevu ward youth chairperson, John Kamweo 22, and Martin Sikatazo, 33, of Mandevu compound were discharged yesterday.

Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate, Lameck Mwale, entered a nolle prosequi in respect of the three PF members.

In the first count, the three were on March 15, alleged to have assaulted Lemmy Bwalya, thereby occasioning him actual bodily.

In the second count, it was alleged that Cliff Bwalya and Kamweo, assaulted Thomas Phiri on the same date. In the third charge, Bwalya allegedly assaulted Gladys Mwila.

When the matter came up yesterday for continued trial, public prosecutor Juvenalis

Kamutondole said that the State had received instructions from the DPP to enter a nolle prosequi Mr Mwale told the accused persons that he was discontinuing the matter and discharged them accordingly.

The assault incident was reported to have happened at Olympic Africa Academy in Chipata compound during PF intra-party ward elections for Mandevu constituency.