Kapiri Banana thief caged for six months

Kapiri Banana thief caged for six months

Kapiri Mposhi, 10 May 2013, ZANIS – Kapiri Mposhi Magistrates court has sentenced a 28-year-old man to six-months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a bunch of bananas valued at K39 Rebased.

And Kapiri Mposhi Resident Magistrate Greenwell Malumani has committed for sentencing a case in which a bus driver is facing 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Before magistrate Brenda Chiganda was Davies Ngosa, 22 of Matilyo compound in Kapiri Mposhi who was charged with theft contrary to section 272 chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Facts before the court were that Ngosa on 27 April 2013 did steal a bunch of Bananas valued at K39 Rebased a property of Violet Mwansa a marketeer at Tambalale market in Kapiri Mposhi.

Ngosa stole the bananas after the owner, Mwansa, who had displayed them for sale temporarily moved away from her stand.

Ngosa who readily admitted the charge in the warn and caution statement recorded by police was arrested and the bananas recovered from him on the same day.

In his mitigation Ngosa pleaded for lenience as he was a first offender and that he was a sole bread winner for his family.

But in passing judgment Magistrate Chiganda noted that theft was serious offence and deprives the owners of property rights to enjoy the benefits from their belongings.

She said the court should set precedence to deter would be offenders by passing strong judgments against theft.

Meanwhile, Kapiri Mposhi Resident Magistrate Greenwell Malumani has committed for sentencing to the High Court a case in which a bus driver is facing 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Magistrate Malumani referred the case after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) granted permission for a summary trial in the High Court.

This is in a case in which Weckson Sikazwe, 40, the driver is charged with 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving while driving a Scania Bus registration Number ABG 7403 belonging to RK Motorways along the Kapiri Mposhi – Ndola Highway.

The accident happened when a Lusaka bound Scania Bus collided with an oncoming Toyota Hiace Minibus registration number ACM 2334 with 17 passengers on board at Kashitu area in Kapiri Mposhi.

The case will be heard in the next sitting of the High Court in Kabwe.

Sikazwe’ bail has been extended.