Trial within a trial for ECL’s former aide

TRIAL within a trial in a matter where former President Edgar Lungu’s Aide-de-camp Chisanga Chanda is accused of harbouring a murder suspect, failed to take off yesterday because the state witnesses were not present.

The Lusaka High Court constituted a trial within trial to determine the authenticity of the warn and caution statement recorded from Chanda.

In the main matter, a state witness, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mudenda Timber, testified that he had recorded a warn and caution statement from the accused which he gave voluntarily.

But the defence lawyers led by Mr Makebi Zulu objected to the claim by the witness that their client’s statement was given voluntarily.

Thus, they filed an application to constitute a trial within trial which was granted by Judge Ruth Chibbabbuka.

When the matter came up yesterday for commencement of the said trial, the state asked for an adjournment on the basis that their witnesses were indisposed.

Justice Chibbabbuka in her ruling adjourned to July 28 and 29, 2022 and advised the state to ensure their witnesses are ready to commence the trial within a trial.

It is alleged that Chanda, knowing that Chilekwa on October 6, 2019 in Kaoma, did murder Mr Lawrence Banda, on unknown dates but between October 6, 2019 and February 4, 2022 in Lusaka, received, comforted, harboured, assisted and maintained.

Chilekwa, who is former President Lungu’s barber, is charged with ex- PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri for the murder of Mr Banda. The two are in custody at a correctional facility in Kaoma.

Meanwhile, at the last hearing, a state witness told the Lusaka High Court that police interrogated him about the alleged hidden money belonging to former President Edgar Lungu.

Inspector Jonathan Mushanga, a police officer attached to the police deputy commissioner Chisanga Chanda, told Lusaka High Court Judge Ruth Chibbabbuka, that during his detention, police never asked him about Shebby but only insisted that he tells them anything he knew about President Lungu.

“I was threatened that my head was on the chopping board and was going to be fired if I did not tell them what they wanted,” he said.

He said to date, the threats have continued.