As a murder-accused quartet appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates Court yesterday, an air of grief swept through the courtroom as Lucy Siawiyi, the grieving mother of slain IBA boss Guntila Muleya, shed tears of sorrow.
The grieving mother of the slain 44-year victim struggled to contain her emotions as she came face to face with the people that may have brutally ended her son’s life.
Family members and her younger sister rushed to her side, offering comforting words and solace as she sobbed uncontrollably.
In a short conversation with Kalemba, Siawiyi who was at a loss for words said; “It really hurts my daughter,” she complained as she fought back a storm of tears.
Earlier in Court, magistrate Mutinta Mwenya explained the charge of murder to the four suspects in connection with the death of Muleya who was the Independent Broadcasting Authority director general, after the State substituted the flawed indictment which did not indicate the date on which the crime was committed.
The quartet is identified as Mthusani Dokowe Baza 29, a police officer of Sunzu road civic centre, Caleb Zulu 30, of house no. 87 Libala Stage 3, a police officer, Samuel Dokowe Baza 37, a system engineer of house no. 371 Chainda compound and Chipyoka 42, an account of plot no.12 626 Foxdale.
It is alleged that the four on July 23, 2024, gruesomely ended Muleya’s life, by shooting him in the head whilst he was handcuffed.
The incident is alleged to have occurred in Njolwe area of Chongwe district, after Muleya was captured on his way home from work.
IBA finance director Francis Chipyoka and his co-accused informed the Court that they understood the charge but, magistrate Mwenya indicated that they would not take plea as murder is a capital offense only tried by the High Court.
“You will not proceed to take plea as the matter is beyond my jurisdiction,” she said.
State advocate Frank Sikazwe informed the Court that the committal certificate is not ready and it will only be issued after two weeks.
Osborne Ngoma who is representing Caleb Zulu proposed that the committal certificate should be ready within seven days, since the State had all the evidence and necessary documentation at their disposal.
He said the accused have spent days in detention, without progress being made in their case.
Sikazwe said he could not disclose the reasons the certificate of committal would be ready in a fortnight.
Magistrate Mwenya adjourned the case to October 7, 2024 for mention and possible committal to the High Court.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba September 24, 2024.
