The High Court in Zambia sentenced Gibson Zimba, a...

The High Court in Zambia sentenced Gibson Zimba, a former aide of ex-president Frederick Chiluba, to death by hanging for the murder of three teachers.
According to court records, Zimba, a former State House permanent secretary, and Kennious Sialuzi, a police officer who was guarding his house, shot dead three primary school teachers whom they mistook them for robbers at night.
They were both found guilty of the murder of Kelvin Nyirongo, Eddon Mupenda and Fumu Chimuwongo on September 7, 2001.
Judge Anthony Nyangulu said facts before the court suggested that Zimba and Sialuzi did not act in self-defence as the three deceased were not armed.
He dismissed the defence's argument that Zimba and the police officer thought the three teachers were robbers because there is no law that allows the killing of thieves.
"The killing of criminals is prohibited both by domestic and international law. No person is permitted to take the law into their own hands," Nyangulu said.
"I sentence the two accused persons, Zimba and Sialuzi, to be sentenced to death; to hang by the neck until they are pronounced and certified dead by a qualified medical officer," Judge Nyangulu said.
The murder of the three school teachers was committed when Chiluba was still in government.
Zimba was sacked from his position shortly after President Levy Mwanawasa took over the presidency from Chiluba early in 2002.