Friday, March 29, 2024

Mwaliteta and others acquitted

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Central Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta
File picture:Former Kafue  MP  Obvious Mwaliteta
Former Kafue PF Member of Parliament Obvious Mwaliteta and all his co-accused has been acquitted by the Lusaka High Court on charges of aggravated robbery.
Mwaliteta, 47, of Kafue, Evans Mukobela, 45, of Matero, MacMillan Shimukonka, 34, of Twin Palm, Laswell Phiri, 43, of Lilanda, and Emanuel Mumbi of unknown age and address were arrested and charged for intercepting records of election results, a day before President Edgar Lungu was declared winner of August, 2016 elections.
The court heard that Mr Mwaliteta was at the ECZ premise though there is no evidence from the state linking him to the crime.
The court ruled that it cannot assume that the other co-accused Fred hamaamba was at the scene and found nothing wrong for political players to be at the ECZ premise.
The court said Mr Mwaliteta was, therfore, at ECZ to follow up on election results being a politician himself.
It said it is not the duty of the court to fill in the gaps of the prosecution evidence.
The court ruled that the state has not established enough evidence to warrant a case and acquits Mr Mwaliteta and others.
Jubilation in court as all the accused are acquitted and obvious Mwaliteta’s  daughter fainted in court as the father is acquitted.

112 COMMENTS

    • Deservedly so/
      I studied the small print of this case and mwaliteta had NO CASE at all.

      Thank goodness there is credibility in Zambia’s justice system

      I have a phd

      Thanks

      BB2014,2016

    • Zambia’s victory again.
      How many more days before the major victory?
      You guys organise a victory rally at Heroes stadiums. These are heroes.

    • Lies has short legs and can not run faster than the truth, so I have consistently said. This has been proven in this case and so it shall be proven in HH ‘s case.

      The truth of PF ‘s rigging is about to be exposed. Lets watch as the case unfolds to confirm that Lungu is an illegal president.

      The commonwealth secretary came to Zambia on fact finding mission to ascertain whether Zambia needs to expelled from the organisation like Zimbabwe or not. She will go back and report, after which a decision will be taken. Lungu is putting Zambia at risk of being expelled from the commonwealth through his evil schemes.

      Obasanjo and Lady Scotlands fired shots at Lungu to stop his dictatorial behaviour. If he does not, him and cohort will soon be given an international travel ban like the…

    • Obasanjo and Lady Scotlands fired shots at Lungu to stop his dictatorial behaviour. If he does not, him and cohort will soon be given an international travel ban like the korean leader.

      Lungu’s tyranny is about to end,watch the space.

      Free HH now or else.

    • This is just the beginning of good things to come when HH is not found guilty for treason resulting from a traffic jam.

      Mwaliteta & friends are brave & heroes of democracy. The PFolice persecutors only target UPND politicians leaving out chatterbox Mumbi Phiri et al PF bandits.

      Shame on PF & bravo to Mwaliteta & mates~celebrations.

      Commonwealth continue “drilling” onto the “throats” of violent & undemocratic PF bandits under visionless Lungu. Uko!
      The Skeleton Key
      ~206~

    • There is still a grain of credibility in our judiciary. This is exactly why Vodiga Rungu and minions delayed beyond 14 days the electoral petition that challenged his clearly fraudulent erection. The evidence is overwhelming and no judge in their right mind can ignore it.

    • These guys have suffered enough such that this acquittal make no sense, Any reasonable person will know that there was no case but political persecution by EL and RB, But their days are numbered.

    • Evil PF regime. Evil Malawian Moslem Dictator lungu who pretends to be christian.

      Keeping someone away from his family for one year by abusing a rotten DPP.

      They accuse you of a non-bailable offence like aggravated robbery, treason or motor vehicle theft (with no evidence) knowing that it’ll take years before the case is disposed of.

    • @1.5 Nostradamus. The acquitted are UPND cadres, so are Zambian courts independent or not? I want honest answers from those who have accused the judiciary of going to bed with the govt.

    • @Mwakale why you pick on me LT President? If the courts were not in love with PF, why it took so long to refuse PF’s formication?
      I dem

    • Lungu knowis very well that HH and most UPND members in jail will win their cases that why he has told the state prosecutors to delay the cases.

      Delaying justice is synonymous to just justice denied. This explains why the constitutional court used a series of adjournments to throw out the election petition as opposed to let the UPND present all the evidence.

      If and when the court will allow the petition evidence to be presented without interference, Lungu and his cohort will be found wanting without fail.
      Verdict
      Lungu is an illegal president busy delaying and fighting his removal.

    • Why expose to persecution and humiliation a fellow human being out of malice and sheer incompetence? Mwaliteta et al had to endure agony for no justifiable incarceration as it is the release comes too late for in essence a sentence for a non existent felony has already been served! To Mwaliteta et al, take your time to have a good rest and re-establish bonding disturbed during your incarceration with family and friends.

    • INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
      =====================
      This is how dirty politics can get. Almost 12 months down there. Fellaz kindly behave civil all the time. Congratulations Mwaliteta! You were once a minister but your political miscalculation landed you an indirect jail term. Things politicians undergo. This world is full of this and that. Do everything humanly possible to stay outa’ trouble. You acquittal does however not mean that you are free of all the charges against you. We have seen a murderer go scotch free on account that the witness was either a drunk or a sl.ut.

    • Acquittal is not proof of innocence but failure to prove guilty.

      A criminal is innocent from the time he still to the time he is proven guilty. If if there is failure to prove that criminal guilty then he/she remains innocent even after killing.

      So asking the question,

      “why did they detain an innocent person when finally the court has declared him innocent?”

      is the same as asking the question,

      “why have they failed to provide evidence to get the criminal convicted, but instead have let the court declared him innocent?”

    • Lungu is discredited. Even Maduro of Venezuela is a more competent dictator. Mwaliteta should sue the PF govt for millions of dollars for being jailed for one year just to please Kaffir Zulu and his Lungu.

  1. Arrested for carrying out a citizens arrest only for tables to turned on them…i hope they sue for the time Lazy Lungu has wasted their time!!

    • not lungu you foo, was hi the one who arrested them? you can go back to school if want to be a good reasoner jay jay .

    • Unfortunately it’s the Zambian tax payer who will pay for wrongful arrest and not pf, anyone supporting such political arrests does not pay tax.

    • Divide & Rule – If only DPP was held accountable for all these wrongful arrests and nolle prosequi cases .. …imagine all that time Mwaliteta has spent that he will never get back ….arrested by stinking criminals for doing the right thing.

    • jahjahbinks – i have no reason to fight a dumb. blind cadre like you who is following blindly.
      Have a nice day!!

  2. Nothing done out of spite, vice and malice in this short life works. Mwaliteta was incarcerated for all the above reasons. Some of you here have been celebrating the abuse of power by PF who believe that they will last forever in power. Ask Kaunda! Chickens will one day come home to roost. Mark my word, what goes round must come round and whether 10, 15 or 20 years from now, someone will be held accountable for their role in this saga of injustices. I’m going to celebrate this news and will be back soon. Watch for the guy in a white t-shirt at Mwaliteta’s house.

  3. Sad fo ichilema then, him video evidence will show that he was there doing treason so. Broad daylight taking ova boma. Anya mambala ena!!!

    • Did you see him driving the car and wasnt he in the same convoy as GBM and 60 others? You really are dull, malicious, hateful, envious, and dead U guess because your conscience seems seared.

    • Did Hitler himself kill anyone? When presidents are taken to the international criminal court are they taken in their individual capacity or is it for the matters they had command over? HH had command over his convey and so the treason charge.
      Hang the bugger.

    • boma ni boma kaluba iwe. let him just accept and forget all of that or they will find another case for hin again

    • Potipher’s Family(PF) can summon the entire Legion of demons from purgatory, without evidence, it’s all in vain. May Jahovah be praised for this victory.

    • You missed the point as usual! ! If PF controlled the courts Mwaliteta was going to be imprisoned on instructions by the PF. Or maybe to satisfy you the PF may have instructed the prosecutor to mumble jumble the evidence so that the magistrate could find no case against the accused. Does this theory satisfy your ego?

    • Ndanje

      PF and lungu had no option but to release them……lungu is feeling the heat….IMF bailout talks are at a crucial stage.. ..

    • @8.5 Spaka like lilo . is it not possible to just appreciate a good deed done than being sarcastic? Whether IMF or not, appreciate that the courts have done the right thing and therefore need commendation.

  4. In the first place, the case of AR existed only in Lungu and his minions heads, there was no such case anywhere in law and so is the case against HH. Bangwele baiminina fye pakucusha abanabo.

  5. This is just a window dresser. Jubilate while it lasts longer. Next week you’ll be saying judges are corrupt.
    Someone has rightly pointed out that there was no evidence. Well and good. Let’s wait and see if the next one won’t have evidence. All the international community have seen the video and condemned oval head’s action and the latest been obasanjo and now ms Scotland.

    • …besides, Oval, this just highlights the pressing need government has to invest in and upgrade the ZP.

    • One one can agree that a traffic offence is a treason offence……only PF and lungu…..all this is part of negotiations with HH to release all political prisoners….next will be freedom of the opposition to operate….that is where talks are stuck I believe.

      Lungu and PF can not live with a free opposition according to democratic norms …

    • …free opposition or not, fact won’t change that VOTERS in majority are the ones that put governments in office. Even if hh is released, does it mean that Matero, Chiwempala, Bangweulu, or Chipata will automatically vote for him?? As things stand, the voting pattern of 2015, 2016 won’t change in 2021 just like southern, western and north-western will still vote for hh/upnd, right???

    • Zambian citizen

      With out state apparatus to aid in his violence and thuggery against the opposition , there is no way Mr lungu would have won…..even if he borrowed and spent another $30 billion on development….

    • Only a dog can see evidence in a traffic offence in which if any charge at all, can be placed on the driver and also the drivers of the convoy of more than 40 vehicles in the video evidence, cases which only attract a fine and not imprisonment. But we are not surprised because dogs use their instinct and not brains to bark the loudest.

  6. Wooiooa! Mushota for once being sensible! Writing something that makes sense??? Ooooooh the gods must be crazy!!!

  7. Viva Juddg. Let other judges do the right thing for the those like HH who have been persecuted for no reason. People who do injustice to others will one day pay dearly in this life and in the life to come.

  8. Most UPND supporters are obviously not happy with this news as they were hoping they can continue gaining mileage over his case.

    • abilima

      Either way was good for UPND.. ..keep them locked up they say political prisoners…..release them and it is a victory for international pressure on a dictatorship that needs western aid…..

      That is the problem with doing wrong and illegal things, lies or coverups only expose you more…

    • This shows you that UPND lawyers are not Donkeys nor are they under 5… PFOOLS were waiting for hanging – a time to kill, but God said not today

  9. If you know African politics, you will understand that this is ECL smart politics. He is firmly in power now and the HH petition is also completely out of the way. So in short Mwaliteta and others are totally inconsequential. So why not give them the freedom after all the trauma they have gone through has had a psychological impact which takes them further into oblivion. In short, its a done deal..

  10. Hats off to the men and women of the judiciary for passing out the correct judgements. Continue exposing the inefficiencies of the police force.

  11. What was kaizer Zulu and mumbi phiri doing with stuffed ballot boxes ??? That is what this case was about….

    • The fact that you are looking forward to 14th August when the judge in the traffic offense case already stated that if the evidence that was presented then was the one that they wanted to rely on for the treason then the treason case was as good as also dismissed, then you are a deeply dull man.

  12. The problem in Zambia is Jonathan and his PF Cadres like Kaizar Zulu, Mumbi Phiri, Kampyongo etc who are directing the Police to arrest Opponents.The PF Police is no longer doing Professional work. They are a tool being used to persecute Opponents thru Persecution. The back stops with Lungu and he must take full responsibility for the mess Zambia is now in. There is no longer law and order under the Illegitimate Lungu govt.Lungu must release HH and UPND Cadres arrested on politically motivated grounds. This must stop forthwith.

    • What do you expect from empty tins such as Kampyongo whose highest a qualification is a dilpoma from Katondo Street College.

  13. I spent some time in Grade Five studying First person singular, First person plural, Second person singular Second person plural etc.
    Former Kafue PF Member of Parliament Obvious Mwaliteta and all his co-accused is Third person plural. So the verb should be HAVE not HAS.
    I can make a good editor in Zedian journalism sichoncho?

  14. @ spakalinyo if your tribal leader was to be shot dead at spot no one was going to say anything because it’s legal to do that.
    Keep on trivialising the case as being a mare traffic offence. Am sure you must have been the one who advised hh not to give way to the PRESIDENCY. Leaders who understands issues straight away noticed the grave mistake oval head made. And you a nonentity are busy saying a traffic offence. Give credit to ecl for restraining the fire. Oval head is even lucky to be at mukobeko otherwise noyu tulepema ngeuleuleta. Aletola nobwapona chimbwi. The vips who have visited him have told him to thank ecl should the courts find him innocent.

    • You are just dull mune like any PF supporter. Watch how your tuma cops will sh!!t bricks once on the stand. Shocking that actual adults think that traffic offence case can be used to charge someone for treason and someone has the guts to come here and think there is substance in that case?? Are you married to Kudos by any chance? Coz your absence of brain is strikingly similar.

  15. There likely two things to this case.. 1 is that of course as we knew these guys were innocent.. So they got acquitted but they acquittal could be that if it is the PF who put them in jail, there cause has worked because they have been kept in jail for that period to teach them a lesson. The second is that they have struck a deal with government to be singing praise to the party in power and we will be hearing of them praising the PF and the President.

  16. I am on record on LT saying and pushing , in my humble way, that only international exposure and pressure will stop lungu and his crackdown on democracy…….the PF rats were laughing….wjat they do not understand is lungu and the PF government need and depend on internatìnal aid…..lungu and pf are heavily in debt and dont have at their disposal the mineral weslth of zimbabwe nor the geostrategic location of uganda or eygpt…the Indians and Chinese have reached the end of what they can give pf.

    • I warned these foools but they didnt listen …now their day to day chores are filled with this…foooolish fooools. Lazy Lungu is a foool.

    • What do you expect when lungu has people like kaizer Zulu as advisories???

      They do not understand world geopolitics and their grusp on current affairs is lamentable…..most people can see Zambia is suseptable to western pressure from which they depend on aid….

    • When they were chewing the eurobonds the PF and their rats thought they were invincible and Zambia has money that falls from heaven……not knowing those eurobonds recklessley spent were a rope round their necks….if lungu and his advisores were smart they should have used the eurobonds to build a resistance economy to weather western pressure…..but alas they were back begging IMF for a bailout after one year..

  17. There is something fishy here; “…….the four men blocked the ECZ van coming from the airport and paper sprayed the ECZ officials and drove away with ballot papers…”. Who is fooling who here?

  18. To everyone who cares about democracy in Zambia and Africa at large, you can all play a part by emailing as many media organisations to come and cover this case on the 14th.

    The more international exposure the better for democracy , after all we are not a secretive society like north Korea.. …

  19. Another own goal… chakolwa has egg on the face. Look at the picture when he met the lady from the Commonwealth, he looked like a thief who has been caught with a hand in the till. Zambia needs leadership.

  20. one year in jail is a lesson.Let the state pay mwaliteta and friends otherwise it means they have been jailed for one year.

  21. ka mushota you are a snake when mwaliteta was and his co convicts were imprisoned you were happy but just after their release you twist your position, i now doubt your phd .pipo who are highly educated to even post on social media for them to be acknowledged

  22. The same courts that have been condemned have proven that they are impartial time and time again!

    If HH is innocent the courts will likewise set him free.

    So those making threats and wishing death and insulting the justice system should reflect on their words!

    Elo ba Lsk Times why are you allowing Wanzelu to continue with his hate inspired comments? Please ban and delete that geno.cidal cretin!

  23. SO Who stole the ballot boxes from the airport? The real court should start now, The ConCourt is going to be challenged

  24. Well, acquitted A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELECTION THAT SAW HIM DETAINED!! I am SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED THAT WE CAN DETAIN A PERSON FOR SO LONG AND THEN FAIL TO PROVE THE CASE!! Better ENTER A NOLLE PROSEQUI rather than waste someone’s time for this long!!

  25. If our colleagues in the other camp are genuine christians they should read between the lines and hear God’s counsel through 10 commandments or Jesus refined 2 commandments. Come to their senses and do the Godly needful thing and lose nothing. The way court cases are going the bible history can be made. Thy shall not…..The great shall be …..The humbled shall be …….The first shall be…..The last shall be …..

  26. @ZAMBIAN CITIZEN! That was very dull of you to think the voting pattern will not change since the last two general elections!
    HH IMPROVED to 49% inspite of stealing and stuffing of ballots by PayaFarmers.
    DO YOU KNOW THAT HH WON 60% OF ZAMBIAN LAND AREA?

  27. Most of the judiciary is still compromised. Only a few ‘brave’ ones from time to time make legal decisions. But in any case, the state has been arresting perceived opponents even where it knows there is no evidence for the charges. The idea being to punish – because they know detentions without trial are long in Zambia.
    The worst is the Constitutional court. It was created to defend the indefensible state.

  28. @spaka every one knows the death sentence has not been passed since Chiluba’s term and OUR Leader ONE ECL ever since taking the office has equally never signed to effect it on any condemned convict. So should HH be sentenced to death which even if he is found guilty of treason I doubt will happen everyone knows he will not be executed. In other words be serious and learn to know when a commentator is joking and besides HH is not the President of the land, whereas Chap 129 of the Laws of Zambia and the Penal code section 69 states it clearly how serious an offence it is to insult the President which is what you 2 and others are doing. Remember HH is not the President, ECL is the President Legally and Internationally recognised might I remind you not your ka god HH!

  29. @Spaka. .if IMF says YES to our bailout application you critise and say many evil things. When they IMF dillydallies on the bailout you celebrate and ties it to you restricted president. What’s your real nature?

    • My real nature is for Mr lungu to concentrate on job and wealth creation for Zambia instead of chasing and harassing the opposition 24/7…..i pay tax in the west and dont want my tax monies in the way of western aid and imf bailouts to be supporting a budding dictator in Zambia.. ………

  30. Apparently those two were having rough s.e.x when Dora inadvertently inserted her pointing finger with a long nail deep into Mutalama wa Katanga’s backside where it never shines & stinks! Now you know what, that chap had Banyamulenge torture him during the Congolese war inserting all sorts of things in his prat & Dora’s sexual perversion awoke sad memories that’s why the Katangese clobbered the mulya mbeba! Reminded me of Nawakwi also paneled by Hambulo!

  31. The Zambian Courts have given a fair judgement based on available facts so presented by the Prosecution and Defense teams. However, Mr. Mwaliteta will have a long-term or (life-long) recess to reflect on his nomadic political traits – especially taking into account that UPND is gradually fragmenting towards eternal oblivion.

  32. Zambian Public Prosecutors are fake. The tear gas and pepper sprays Mwaliteta and group allegedly used on ECZ officials was all lies?? The alleged ambush of the ECZ vehicle in long acres we read about in papers was all lies? The only evidence the prosecution had was that the accused were found at ECZ offices! Can you keeping people for close to one year in custody for being found at ECZ offices? Why didn’t you give them a case of Criminal trespass? Where did the case of aggravated robbery come from?
    Don’t place charges on people if you can’t get a conviction. And dont deliberately mishandle cases by playing the fool in court. Let Private Prosecutors take over some of these Cases. Some Public Prosecutors’
    Performance is a charade to say the least, only fit for stand up comedy.

  33. Kikikikiki today Obvious Mwaliteta and co shall enjoy good life with their wives-glad for them!!hope they have learnt a big lesson during the more than 10 months they have spent in jail.nobody in Zambia can reverse their wasted months in jail.so in future,avoid supporting HH blindly!!
    Boma ni boma ba “spaka like lilo!!”
    Even your HH will be out within August because even him has received enough punishment for his nonsense in mongu!!kikikikikiki

    • Yes is now to sue for loss of earnings ……..mwaliteta and co will get good GRZ money but HH has had his international profile lifted , who does not know the name HH now ????

      HH can fill any stadium now…..

  34. This was obvious. A former minister accused of aggravated robbery! The same day Mwaliteta and others were arrested at ECZ offices,Mumbi Phiri and Kaiza Zulu were spotted waiting to receive election results at City airport, looking very tense. Was it really their job to receive election results??…….

  35. Acquittal is not proof of innocence but failure to prove guilty.

    A criminal is innocent from the time he kills a person to the time he is proven guilty. And if there is failure to prove the criminal guilty then he/she remains innocent even after killing.

    So asking the question,

    “why did they detain an innocent person when finally the court has declared him innocent?”

    is the same as asking the question,

    “why have they failed to provide evidence to get the criminal convicted, but instead have let the court declared him innocent?”

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