Fight over Nshima Lands Ndola Man in Prison

A 36-YEAR-OLD man of Kaloko township in Ndola has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour by the Ndola Magistrate’s Court for assaulting his neighbour over nshima.
This is in a case in which Erison Kachenjela of house number 0423 was jointly charged with Dala Simutenda, 30, of house number 0512 in the same township.
But the State withdrew the case against Simutenda on grounds that there was no sufficient evidence against him.
Kachenjela admitted the charge before magistrate Ben Akende on Monday.
“I find you guilty of the charge and I convict you accordingly. I, therefore, sentence you to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from March 18 this year,” Mr Akende said.
He granted Kachenjela leave to appeal to the High Court within 14 days.
In mitigation, Kachenjela pleaded with the court not to send him to prison because his crops would go to waste.
He also submitted that he takes care of his mother after the death of his father.
Particulars of the offence are that Kachenjela and Simutenda, on March 9 this year in Ndola, jointly and whilst acting together, assaulted Andrew Mwamba and occasioned him actual bodily harm.
Facts before court were that on the material day around 19.00 hours, Mr Mwamba was at his house when Kachenjela and Simutenda approached him and demanded nshima.
The court heard that Mr Mwamba told Kachenjela and Simutenda he could not give them nshima because there was none left.
But Kachenjela and Simutenda got annoyed and assaulted Mr Mwamba with sticks and an iron bar.
Mr Mwamba sustained head injuries and he reported the matter to the police.
Kachenjela and Simutenda were arrested and charged with the subject offence.