ZAMBIA: POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER

A police officer on 4 May 2021 was sentenced to death by hanging for shooting dead a Zambia Air Force employee at Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) offices in Chipata in 2019.
Matondo Mangolwa, 42, a sergeant at Chipata Central Police Station, appeared before Lusaka-based High Court judge Sharon Newa charged with one count of murder.
Facts before the court were that while armed with an AK47 rifle on 4 August 2019, Mangolwa shot dead 42-year-old James Chishimba at ZRA offices, where the officer was guarding the premises around 02:40 hours.
The State called four witnesses to testify against Mangolwa, who only managed to organise two eye-witnesses to defend his case.
It was learnt during trial that Mangolwa shot Mr Chishimba three times after a misunderstanding.