ZAMBIA: 4 GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER

In Zambia, High Court judge Chalwe Mchenga sentenced four men to death, in two different cases. Two peasant farmers of Luapula Province were sentenced to death by hanging for burning to death seven elderly persons aged between 54 and 80 whom they accused of killing a chief using witchcraft.
Mchenga jailed Joackim Kawawa and Elalio Mwansa, both aged 26, from Samfya for setting ablaze a house with people in it whom they accused of killing sub-chief Mumpaka using witchcraft.
Kawawa and Mwansa are charged with seven counts of murder contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
The duo allegedly committed the offence on September 21, 2011 while acting jointly with other unknown persons.
Mr Justice Mchenga said Kawawa and Mwansa had the right to appeal to the Supreme Court against their conviction and sentence.
Mr Justice Mchenga also sentenced to death by hanging two men of Chienge in Luapula Province for killing Albert Shumbwa, a motorbike operator, in February this year.
Musonda and Chiwele were charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated robbery, contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Mchenga said incidents of killing taxi drivers are on the increase and offenders should be halted through stiffer punishment.