The Kabwe Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Mangala Zaloumis’ daughter, Maria Zaloumis, her Nigerian boyfriend Nathaniel Barthram, and three other co-accused after their charge was reduced from murder to manslaughter. The matter has been committed to the High Court for trial.
State Advocate Joseph Zimba informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to proceed with a reduced charge of manslaughter, contrary to Section 199 of the Penal Code. The original murder charge was linked to the killing of Enock Simfukwe Kasengele on August 17, 2025.
The accused, Maria Francis Zeleni Zaloumis, aged 40; Nathaniel Barthram, 34; Daniel Chiluwa, 40; Fortune Mwitangati, 23; and Gift Daka, 25, were alleged to have committed the offence at Onani Farm in Kabwe. Zaloumis, a well-known farmer, resides at Wonani Farm, while Barthram is a Nigerian national residing at Tuzini Farm.
Lawyers for the defence applied for bail following the reduction of charges. Keith Katazo argued that manslaughter is a bailable offence and that the accused were willing to comply with all bail conditions. He described Zaloumis as a prominent Zambian farmer of fixed abode and Barthram as a resident willing to surrender travel documents. Other defence lawyers, including Macqueen Zaza and Mapange Nsapato, assured the court that the accused would not interfere with witnesses and had credible sureties.
The State did not object to the bail application but requested that Barthram surrender his Nigerian passport. Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso granted bail of K20,000 each in their own recognisance, with two traceable civil servant sureties per accused. The accused must report to the nearest police station every fortnight pending trial.
The case was committed to the Kabwe High Court for summary trial. All five accused remain in custody until bail conditions are satisfied. The legal team includes lawyers from Legal Aid, Dove Chambers, Nsapato Advocates, and Chiwala Boniface Legal Practitioners.
Absolutely nothing wrong by being granted bail but K20,000 is the question
$850 Bail for murder? What a country? And you are not granting bail to people who committed questionable cases of tribal remarks, the so called Hate Speech for merely mentioning the tribe tonga. This is purely an injustice to the nation. The crime is Zaloumis (the killer) Vs the State. And the state chooses to play tribal and hate injustice to the dead young man and his poor family. The question is, ARE YOU ZAMBIANS HAPPY WITH WHAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS DOING? What should the next government do to the people in this government?
These names: Magistrate ??????????????????? on the side of fellow westerners. It is sad.