By JULIUS PHIRI –

A PEASANT farmer of Lundazi District has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his brother over K40.
Appearing before Lusaka High Court Judge Chalwe Mchenga, who is conducting criminal sessions in Chipata, was James Kumwenda, 40, of Samuel Village in Chief Mwase’s area, who was convicted of murder contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Facts of the case are that Kumwenda, on July 31, last year in Lundazi, murdered Moses Kumwenda after differing over money.
On the material date, Kumwenda went to collect money from  Mr T.D Mwanza and on his way back, he passed through some shops where he bought some groceries.
At the shops, Kumwenda found his younger brother Moses, who asked Kumwenda if Kumwenda could carry him on his bicycle.
The court heard that before the convict carried Moses who had been taking alcohol, the two brothers bought sachets of beer which they drank as they rode home.
When they reached home, the convict checked his pockets and found K90 missing from his pockets.
Moses then admitted having got the money and gave his brother K50.
The deceased told James that he would give him maize to make up for the remaining K40.
James, however, turned down the offer and a fight erupted.
The convict struck his younger brother with a hoe handle at the back of his head that caused a wound.
Moses died later in hospital.
When passing the sentence on Wednesday, Mr Justice Mchenga said he had found overwhelming evidence against James.
He said it was sad that James became violent and struck his younger brother with a hoe which resulted in his death.