LUSAKA High Court judge Gertrude Chawatama has sentenced to death five PF cadres after finding them guilty of murdering a UPND cadre Grayzer
Matapa in February 2015.
And judge Chawatama says people should live in harmony regardless of political differences.
Before judge Chawatama was Mwewa Yapanshi, 24 of unknown address, Billy Semani Kansenya, 25, Moses Lungu, 31, Maxson Phiri, 39, and Albert Mainsa, 31, all of Mtendere East, who were charged with murder contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Allegations were that Yapanshi, Kansenya, Lungu, Phiri and Mainsa on February 23, 2015 jointly and whilst acting together murdered Matapa, but they pleaded not guilty.
Delivering judgment yesterday, judge Chawatama said sentencing the five to death should send a warning that political violence should be avoided and that people should live in harmony regardless of their political differences.
She said the accused formed together a common purpose to beat up Matapa and that the prosecution had proved the case beyond any reasonable doubt.
“I sentence you to death by hanging until pronounced dead. May the Lord have mercy on your souls,” said Judge Chawatama as family members, who were in the courtroom, broke down.
And Matapa’s elder brother, Douglas, said justice had prevailed although his family had suffered a lot.
Douglas said the family was pleased that justice had been delivered accordingly.
“When you kill someone, you should also expect to go in a similar way. We are very happy justice has taken its course, so let them feel it the way we felt after Grayzer died,” said Douglas, who was accompanied by Matapa’s widow, Memory, and children among other relatives.
The Post Newspaper