IN a heart-breaking testimony, mother of the slain juvenile maid told the Lusaka High Court that Majory Lwembo had hinted that she would receive her daughter’s corpse on reasons that the girl would consume her children’s porridge and her behaviour was unreasonable.
In this case, Majory Chanda Lwembo, 30, a physician and Smart Mumba, a lecturer at Dovecote Medical University, are charged with murder.
It is alleged that between August 28, 2023 and August 30, 2023, the couple ganged up on Janet Mpundu and beat her to death.
Testifying before judge Vincent Siloka, 35 year old Constance Mwelwa narrated that her brother Ronald Kapalaula had informed her that his boss had a friend in Lusaka who was in need of a girl to take care of their children when the medics couple was at work.
She said she released her 14-year-old daughter, who was a Grade four drop-out to go to the city and carry on with her education.
“I talked to Lwembo on the phone, I was promised that she was going to take care of my child like her own. She informed me that Janet was not going to the city to work for her as a house help but to educate her,” Mwelwa said.
“I was told that she would also look after her children when she knocks off from school. I advised her not to be beating her when she errors but instead counsel her.”
Mwelwa said Lwembo sent her a K500 for transport and the deceased left for the city, the following day.
She said two months later her brother received a call from Lwembo who had requested that she speaks to her.
“She told me my daughter was caught eating the children’s porridge and her behaviour was getting worse. She warned that instead of me receiving a dead body, I should send some transport money, so that my daughter could return home,”Mwelwa said.
“So I warned her that if my daughter dies you will know what to do. That’s when she said “I was just joking about you sending transport I’ll instead take her to the clinic.” When I asked my daughter (Janet) she responded saying she was dying.”
The sombre Mwelwa said her daughter further reported that she had been badly beaten battered by Lwembo who grabbed the phone whilst they were still talking.
“The following day, I recieved a phone call that my child had died, we buried her in Mansa( Luapula province) she was okay when we sent her to Lusaka I don’t know what caused her death,” she said amid sobs.
In cross-examination, Mwelwa said she wants the accused to be punished for her daughter’s death as she was still aggrieved angered by her sudden death.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba April 13 , 2024.
