Chipata Magistrate Court Moses Phiri has fined a 47-year-old Vubwi district Patriotic Front (PF) chairperson Michael Tembo for assaulting Peter Sukwa, a correspondent with the Post Newspaper and Kelvin Phiri, a Feel Free FM station radio journalist.
This is in a matter in which Tembo  on December 10th last year assaulted the two journalists who were investigating a story where it was alleged that foreigners were being aided to obtain National Registration Cards (NRCs) and being registered as voters in the registration centre in the district.
Facts were that on 10th December last year, the PF cadre jointly and whilst acting together with unknown persons beat the two journalists and assaulted them, thereby causing actual bodily harm on them contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Magistrate Phiri said it was unfortunate that as a leader, the accused ended up committing such offences by denting the name of the ruling party.
He said President Lungu had not hidden his sentiments by advocating for non violent cadres.He said cadres should stick to their role and respect the duty that
journalists have even as they also fulfil their role.
‘’ It is clear that the witnesses did not testify against their own boss and the third state witness who earlier identified himself as a business person, was identified by the convict as a potential candidate of the ruling party in Vubwi constituency and I therefore find you guilty of assault and convict you accordingly,’’ Magistrate
Phiri said.
The court noted that it was also a fact that the two journalists were beaten whilst doing their verification duty, adding that, they did not do their duty of informing people as they were blocked by the convict.
Magistrate Phiri said the court noted that the convict was casual during cross examinations and only realized when the seriousness of the matter when he was found with a
case to answer.
In mitigation, Tembo said he was the only one helping the family as he was looking after his sisters’ four children as well as his three biological children.
He also said his mother was a chronically ill person who frequented Chipata Central hospital to seek medication and depended on him.
But the court said his mitigation was heard and that he was the first offender but he should have thought about his family which depended on him before engaging in such acts of violence.
The Magistrate however fined Tembo K 12, 000 or in default serve nine months sentence. The magistrate gave Tembo only Monday to pay the fine or to serve the nine months sentence, stating that of the total fine,K 2000 would go to the state while Sukwa and Kelvin would share K 5000 each.
Magistrate Phiri said the court was satisfied that the prosecution presented its case beyond reasonable doubt to warrant the conviction of Tembo.
He said the convict’s witnesses failed to testify to convince the court when they were cross examined by the state that Tembo was innocent and that it was clear that they wanted to save a person they called their boss as they all belonged to the ruling political party.
Good!! Let him serve as an example to others who resort to violence instead of dialogue.
Saulosi has spoken sense today? Is he on weed or Jameson?
If it was a Upnd militia the 1mbeciles would have cried foul.
Well done court. But this violence, which ZANU-PF (Mugabe) has taught PF (Lungu) will not stop as Edgar Lungu is enjoying it. The real person to sort out is Lungu who masquerades as a humble man. Kick him out or drown this country in violence!
CHAKOLWA VODKA WRUNGU MUST FALL…VIVA HH 2016
This is a chairperson, lock him up and make an example out of him! And if the party has any sence they should suspend him from any contributions towards this campaign. lelo ba kwikata at ulupwa! What about the families of the tormented and tortured victims that have to start making hospital trips because of silly unlawful acts!?
hE WAS just set up by journalist who needed money through the courts the 5000 dollaz each is alot of money for a journalist. Let alone a pf chairperson cannot do that ONLY hwen he is trapped . Have u ever heard of masumba beating people and yet he is a black belt dan 5, he is a leader by birth VIVA MASUMBA
Waste of tax payers money to pay this judge.Which country do they charge Attempted Murder with a mare K12000 fine?The post journalist almost died there and there is more than enough evidence;The foreigners with our reg cards,voters cards etc..and the journalist himself is still alive with his scars still largely visible as evidence.This a proper 30years in jail.But instd this stupid PF cadre judge is fining a K12000 and the criminal walks away freely with no worries,he can even ask the judge to pay in installments.This is a joke.
Actually next time just summon Edgar Chakolwa Kaloba Wrungu and ask him why his cadres have become so violent under his leadership.