THE Lusaka High Court has expressed disbelief at how the children of George Kalaba could have cohabited with their father’s decomposing remains, which were discovered as a skeleton earlier this year, without notifying authorities.
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Yesterday judge Anne Ononuju delivered sentences to four individuals involved in the grim case, including three of Kalaba’s children.
In a case that has gripped the nation, Sylvia Mutaba, 52, stands accused of killing her husband, Kalaba, and has pleaded not guilty to one count of manslaughter.
Her three children, Wendy Kalaba, 27, Sandra Kalaba, 22, and Natasha Kalaba, 19 along with neighbour Preteria Musela, faced a lesser charge of failing to give notice of death.
All three children and the neighbour pleaded guilty to this charge.
The court heard that Kalaba died on November 21, 2023, but his remains were left in the family home in Lusaka’s Garden compound until they had decomposed into a skeletal state when they were discovered in January 2025.
During sentencing, Judge Ononuju questioned how the accused could have continued their daily lives with a deceased person in their home for such an extended period.
“The children continued living a normal life with a wasted body in the house,” the judge stated.
She also wondered how the neighbor, an adult, also failed to report the matter until Kalaba’s remains were turned into bones.
The judge underscored that had it not been for the deceased’s brother, Emmanuel Kalaba, reporting the matter to the police, the remains might have remained undiscovered indefinitely.
Through their lawyer, Chituwa Chengo, the three Kalaba children and Musela pleaded for leniency, expressing deep remorse for their actions and asking for public forgiveness.
“The now convicts ask for forgiveness from the general public for their actions as the case sparked concerns,” Chengo submitted.
He stated that the accused had spent five months in custody and reflected on their conduct.
Despite the severity of the circumstances, Judge Ononuju acknowledged the convicts’ remorse and their cooperation with the court.
“I have considered your mitigation, you are first offenders who readily admitted the charge without wasting the court’s time. And you have shown remorse,” she stated.
The judge sentenced the four to one month of imprisonment with hard labour, counted from their date of arrest.
Having already served five months in custody, the convicts were released following the completion of their paperwork.
Meanwhile, the trial for Sylvia Mutaba, who maintains her innocence on the manslaughter charge, is set to resume on July 4, 2025.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba June 21, 2025
