A Serenje magistrate has appealed to prosecutors to ensure witnesses were ready and available for the cases to avoid unnecessary adjournments.
Magistrate Happy Chongo made the appeal today when he adjourned two separate cases, one involving a Patriotic Front (PF) cadre, Nevers Muchemwe, 25, facing an assault charge and Danny Chipasha, 19, facing a defilement charge.
Magistrate Chongo said it was important to have the witnesses ready and available whenever they were needed to speed up justice and warned that he would dismiss the cases if the witnesses fail to show up next time.
“Justice delayed is justice denied and we need to move quickly in these cases especially the case involving alleged political violence as you know the campaigns are coming to an end by August 13. So ensure that you bring the witnesses or else I will dismiss the cases,” he warned.
Mucehemwe’s case today adjourned to July 31, 2009, while the case of Chipasha of Tazara compound in Serenje was adjourned to August 10, 2009.
Muchemwe is alleged to have assaulted Loyd Kabango, an MMD carder on July 19, 2009 at Chalilo in Chitambo constituency by-elections scheduled for August 13.
And Chipasha is alleged to have defiled a 13-year old girl near National African Church in Serenje on July 4, 2009 and he is remanded in custody.
Public Prosecutor, Israel Chikubayi, told the court that it was unfortunate that witnesses in both cases were not available despite summons having been served on them well in time.
ZANIS
A villager can show up to testify against another villager.the earlier you dismiss that case the better,but will lumpens like KAANDE let you go away with it,especially if they even lose the chitambo seat.you will be transfered to kipushi.away from civilisation
meant to say a villager can’t show up to testify against another villager
Two wierd cases one apona umunankwe over politics ,while the other one akwesa umwache near the church ala tulekwata umwenso guys
Maestro where are you?
MMD cadres swallowing their bitter pill in style. Its unfortunate there were clobbered at the instance of their own violent tactics – a lesson and a warning about the Chitambo bye-election results! May the best party with though.
“they were clobbered”, may the best party “win”
“One blind man can not lead the other,and in the kingdom of blindmen the one-eyed man is the king” So i’m not surprised ,these atrocious PF cadres will definitely get away with it because no one will show up to testify against them because the rural districts are full of cowards!!
They are not cowards my dear but live as one, they are friends. Its only politicians who go to divide them and as such will fight but forgive each other while the politician may still want the matter to go to court, but the case will not succeed because the village as pointed out already by #1 AKAPONDO can never betray another. Yes they will fight its part of life but NOT “kill” each other as politicians want. The PF cadre will definitely escape this one.
#8 Fwenkufwenku you are right,and i know this whole thing is politically motivated but i had no better word to describe their loyalty to one one apart from branding them “cowards”.
Generals