FEAR GRIPS HATEMBO’S AFTER ALLEGED ABDUCTORS GRANTED BAIL

By MULENGA MUSONDA Fear of reprisal and retribution has gripped the Hatembo family following the release of the alleged abductors, without the release of their relatives, Pheluna and Milton Hatembo. “We had hoped to learn something about the whereabouts of our relative, but that expectation has been shattered by the release of the people we thought were responsible, they will hunt us down one after another.” A relative told the Daily Nation. The family was in mourning because apart from losing the 2,000 acre farm, they were  missing relatives and among the greatest tragedy was the award to UPND President Hakainde Hichilema costs in the fraud High court matter which they lost, “ we know the nature of costs. In a similar case against HH another complainant Goerge nsemani Hambwalula was made to suffer a legal fee of K2.8million. This meant losing even the little he had.”he said.  A number of Hatembo family members who had travelled to Lusaka to report the abduction of their relatives to Lusaka Centra Police Station after a disappointment at Choma police are bracing for reprisals. Those who appeared in court  and were released on  K10,00 bail with two working sureties were Fines Malambo, Vincent Lilanda, Ackson Sejani, Javen Simolooka and Veronica Mwanakasale Mukuni, the wife of Senior Chief Mukuni. “”We are worried they will hunt us down for brin ging the issue of land to the fore. They will also have their own way of doing things, who could have been behind this!” a family member lamented. The family members found it shocking that people were calling for the release of the five alleged abductors who were just apprehended recently when their relatives had been missing for a long time without any major outcry until Lusaka Arch-Bishop  Alick Banda spoke out for the welfare of the Hatembo sibblings. He condemned UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa for not caring about the missing Hatembo’s but came out strongly calling for the release of the alleged abductors. “…And yet within his constituency Pheluna is missing, Milton is missing, his voters and he has not issued any statement expressing any displeasure,” the family member said. They have challenged Mr Mweetwa to call for the release of his family members if at all he was a concerned leader. The family, he said  had been psychologically and financially strained and only surviving on hand-outs from well-wishers after the disappearance of Pheluna and Milton Hatembo. CHIEF Mukuni’s wife, Veronica Mwanakasale, and four UPND members yesterday appeared in the Choma Magistrate’s Court on two counts of abduction. The five are accused of abducting Pheluna and Milton Hatembo, who are embroiled in the Kalomo Farm Case with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema. Choma Principal Resident Magistrate, Idah Mupemo, adjourned the matter to May 17, this year for commencement of trial and granted the five suspects K10, 000 cash bail each and they were ordered to provide two working sureties from the Public Service or recognised Institutions. In this matter, Fines Malambo 46, a businessman, Ackson Sejani 63, farmer and former Cabinet Minister, Vincent Lilanda 49, who is Mazabuka Mayo, Javen Simolooka 45, the Mayor of Choma and Veronica Mwanakasale Mukuni 45, are charged with two counts of abduction with intent to confine. In count one, the five are alleged to have abducted Pheluna with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine her while in the second count they are alleged to have abducted Milton. There was tight security with all roads leading to the court premises cordoned off and police were deployed in strategic places. After pleas of not guilty were entered, defence lawyers, Cornelius Mweetwa, Remmy Mainza, Marshall Muchende and Martha Mushipe applied for bail. State Advocate Kamwi Tembo strongly objected to the application, insisting that the accused persons may interfere with the witnesses, looking at the nature of the case. However, Mr Mupemo ruled in favour of the defence and granted all the five K10, 000 cash bail each with two working sureties from recognised Institutions. The witnesses would be bound in the like sum but in their own recognisance.