• BISHOP Rose Kayanda (right), of Jesus Soul Ministries, and her followers being led to Lusaka Central Prison after appearing in court yesterday. They are accused of beating up magistrate Exildah Chanda and her husband Rabison. Picture by NAKUBIANA SHABONGO
By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-
A BISHOP at Jesus Soul Winning Ministries and 13 others yesterday appeared in the Lusaka magistrates’ court for assaulting a magistrate and her husband over a piece of land.
Bishop Rose Kayanda and the 13 followers allegedly assaulted Exhildah Chanda and her husband Robison, who sustained injuries.
The bishop accused the two of encroaching on their land that was a subject of a litigation case at the High Court.
Kayanda, 52, some church elders and other members are charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and malicious damage to property.
It is alleged in the first count that Kayanda of Westwood Makeni and 13 others stole one chitenge material, a pair of slippers and K4,000 altogether valued at K4,196, and property of Ms Chanda on September 25, while armed with plunks, stones and iron bars.
After the alleged theft, they threatened to use violence on Ms Chanda to retain the items they got from her.
In the second count, the 14 are alleged to have on the same date assaulted Mr Chanda with intent to steal.
It is alleged in the third count that Kayanda and others damaged 200 blocks, three spades, a gate building level, two wheelbarrows, 10 pockets of cement and a windscreen of a motor vehicle, namely, a Hummer altogether valued at K77, 227 the property of Mr Chanda.
Kayanda and the others who are mostly her church members told Lusaka principal resident magistrate Kenneth Mulife after he read out the charges to them that they understood the offences.
Mr Mulife told the suspects that they could not take plea before him because the offences they were facing could be tried in the High Court.
The suspects, aged between 27 and 60 years and represented by Lusaka lawyer Oscar Mudenda are remanded in custody as the offences they are facing are not bailable.
Meanwhile, incarcerated Lusaka business executive Beatrice Hangwende has asked the Supreme Court to set aside her conviction and sentence after she was found guilty of murdering her former husband’s lover, Monica Chabwera Phiri.
Beatrice, who was Jasmine Beauty Parlour proprietor, her older brother, John, Joseph Banda and Charles Mwanza were in August last year sentenced to death by hanging by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court is next month expected to hear Beatrice and others’ appeal during its sittings in Kabwe.
