SERENJE ARSONIST JAILED

A MAN of Serenje in Central Province has been jailed for 10 years with hard labour after setting ablaze his grandparents house.

Evans Kunda burnt the house in April 2014, after suspecting his grandparents of practicing witchcraft.
He was arrested and charged for arson and susbsequently jailed by Kabwe High Court Judge Elita Mwikisa after trial.
In his mitigation Kunda pleaded with the court to be lenient with him as he was a first offender who was remorseful and regretted his actions.

Ms Justice Mwikisa said the offence Kunda had committed was a serious one, which deserved a long custodial sentence to stop would be offenders.
She said it was unfortunate that Kunda had decided to take the law into his own hands and burn down his grandparents’ house on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
She said people had continued to take the law into their own hands whenever they were aggrieved.
She noted that it was especially common for the young ones to burn down old people’s houses on suspicion that they were involved in witchcraft.
She said the 10-year jail term should help Kunda to reflect on his actions.

timesof zambia