COURT WARNS STATE

MULENGA MUSINDA writes THE Choma Magistrates Court has warned the State that if instructions from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution will not be issued at the next sitting in which four men are charged with murder, the matter will proceed into a preliminary inquiry. Principal Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili expressed dismay at the   delay of issuance of instructions from March 2020 when the matter first came up for explanation of the charge. In this matter Christopher Moono, 20, a Barber man, Thomas Munkombwe , 26, a Businessman, George Mambo , 40, also a Businessman and Steadwell Mudenda , 27,  a Welder are charged with two counts of murder contrary to the laws of Zambia. Allegations in Count one are that the four jointly and whilst acting together in Choma murdered Jose. In Count 2 it is also alleged that the four murdered Leonard Simukope. The incidents are said to have happened on 9th May 2019 in Choma district. When the matter came up for mention before Court, State Prosecutor Gerald Tembo informed the Court that instructions had not yet been received from the office of the DPP. Magistrate Chibwili expressed worry after noting that the four have been in custody since March 2020 with no progress. He thus directed that if instructions won’t be in on September 22 the next date for mention, the matter will proceed into preliminary inquiry. The four are still remanded in lawful custody at Choma Correctional Facility. The Sun