By CHATULA KAMPO –
A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD pupil of Masaiti District sparked laughter when she told the Ndola Local Court that she was forced to engage herself in sexual activities to find money for snacks at school.
Maureen Chirwa, a grade nine pupil told the court that she was sleeping with her boyfriend Mulenga Miselu, 23, so that he could give her some money for food during break time at schools.
However, the relationship went sour as Chirwa became pregnant and Mulenga failed to provide necessary support.
This was a case in which Chirwa sued Miselu, a farmer in the district, and asked the court to compel the defendant to provide the necessary support towards the pregnancy.
Chirwa told the court that the defendant was giving her K50 every time after making love with him which was enough for snacks at school.
She said although Mulenga was refusing to be responsible for the pregnancy, the defendant was the one who impregnated her because he was the only man she had slept with.
Miselu told the court that she started sleeping with the defendant in July this year and that the last time they used the condom it burst.
Mulenga, however, denied impregnating Mulenga saying he had only slept with her twice and that he had used a condom.
He told the court  that  he was shocked to learn that the complainant was four months  pregnant when  he only slept with her in September this year.
“I knew the complainant in June this year, we had the first sexual intercourse in September and her pregnancy is four months old,” he said.
“That is why I have been refusing to support her because I do not think I am the one who impregnated her.”
Presiding magistrate Oscar Kalaba who was sitting with Magistrate Rosemary Muke and Dismus Katampi censured Chirwa for engaging in sex for cash with the aim of buying food when she had parents who could do that for her.
The court, however, ordered Mulenga to pay a monthly K200 towards the pregnancy before the couple go for a DNA test to determine the paternity of the child.

Uncle dragged to court for insults 

By CHATULA KAMPO
A TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD woman of Ndola has dragged his uncle to court for insulting her and accusing her mother of practising witchcraft.
Mable Dezemona of Nkwazi township said her uncle Richard Micheli, 33, of Lubuto Township in Ndola showered insults on her without any reason.
This was a case in which Dezemona sued Micheli and asked the local court to compel him pay in compensation for the insults and defamation of character of her mother.
Dezemona told Ndola Main Local Court Presiding Magistrate Oscar Kalaba who was sitting with magistrates Rosemary Muke and Dismus Katampi that her uncle should pay for the isults and allegedly defaming his sister.
She narrated that on November 17 this year, Micheli went to her house and insulted her and that in the process told her that her mother was a witch who was behind the sickness of his elder brother.
However, in his defence, Micheli denied ever insulting Dezemona although admitted having told her that her mother was practicing witchcraft because he had evidence.
He claimed that Dezemona’s mother, who was his sister, was practising witchcraft and that he had evidence to prove his allegations.
“I escorted her to Luapula Province and Malawi to see witchdoctors who gave her charms for acquiring wealth, she has built a lot of houses because of the same charms,” he said.
Magistrate Kalaba, however, dismissed the case and reconciled the two.
“The court cannot ask Micheli to compensate her for the insults. You are of the same family and the best we can do as a court not to divide you but to counsel you and reconcile you,” he said.

Lusaka teen opts for marriage

By MWANGALA LISELI
A SEVENTEEN-year-old girl has shocked a full packed Lusaka Boma court when she told her father that she is no longer interested in school but marriage.
Martha Phiri was doing her grade nine but eloped with her boyfriend Lackson Mtonga before telling her father that she was no longer willing to continue with school but rather stay in marriage.
This was a case where Martha’s father James Phiri, 43, sued Mtonga for compensation after the defendant eloped with his daughter.
In her testimony before the local court, Martha admitted that she spent a night at her Mtonga’s place before she was forced by her father to stay with her boyfriend when she tried to return the following morning.
“On the fateful Sunday, I went to church but later met with my boyfriend at his house. When I wanted to leave, I felt some pain on my foot such that I could not walk, and decided to sleep there,” she said.
“However, when I went home the following morning, my father took me back to my boyfriend’s home where I stayed for two weeks.”
She said her father later came and started insulting and beating her up and when they got home, she sat him and her grandmother down to tell them that she wanted marriage instead of school.
Martha told the court that she was however surprised that her parents later went to shout at her and her boyfriend before being withdrawn from the union.
“After they came to Lackson’s house insulting and beating me, we went home and I told them that I wanted to get married but they refused me and said I should continue with school,” Martha said.
Martha said she however, forced her way back to the boyfriend although her mother threatened to have her boyfriend arrested for marrying her.
Mtonga, however, said he accepted having spent a night with Martha only because she was unable to walk back home due to the pain on her foot but was shocked when her father bounced her back.
After the incident, Mtonga said he had gone to plead for forgiveness from Phiri but he refused to get back his daughter.
The defendant was surprised that Martha was brought back by her grandmother.
Phiri said he was disappointed with his daughter as he wanted her to continue with her education after paying for her examinations which she preferred to skip because of her appetite for marriage.
He said he was unhappy that Mtonga was staying with his daughter when
the plaintiff wanted to take her child to school hence his decision to seek court redress.
Senior court magistrate Grace Kanta sitting magistrates Morgan Khayanika and Peggy Nyambe ordered Mtonga to compensate Phiri with K3,500 which should be settled monthly instalments of K300.

Landlord threatens to gun down  tenant

By MWANGALA LISELI
THE Lusaka Boma Local Court has heard how a man of Ten Miles allegedly threatened his tenant to shoot her for deserting his house without settling two-month rentals.
Mundia Wamunyima, 26, told the local court that her 60-year-old landlord Rodwell Chindamba warned her that she would be gunned down if she continued to delaying in settling the rentals.
This is a case where Chindamba sued Wamunyima for none payment of K700 after the defendant vacated his house without settling two-month outstanding arrears.
Wamunyima said she had explained to Chindamba that she would pay him once she had the money but instead plaintiff kept on threatening her.
“He calls me asking for his money and I have been telling him that I will give him the money but he threatens to shoot or beat me up when we cross paths,” she said.
A woman of Ten Miles area has told the Lusaka Boma Local Court that she had been afraid to settle her former landlord his house rentals after he threatened to shoot her for having not paid them on time.
Wamunyima said that she had on several occasions tried to take the money to Chindamba but always withdrew when he called her and threatened to shoot or beat her up.
Chindamba, however, told the court that Wamunyima had moved out of his house without settling her house rentals for two months without his knowledge.
He said he tried calling her but she always avoided his calls and even refused to meet with him.
Chindamba said he wanted his money because she had kept it for too long and it was his only source of income.
Senior Court Magistrate Grace Kanta sitting with senior court magistrates Morgan Khayanika and Peggy Nyambe ordered Wamunyima to pay Chindamba his money in two instalments.
The court said Wamunyima should first pay K350 first instalment starting next month end, while the other K350 should be paid in January.

Mom demands K15,000 for daughter’s pregnancy

By MWANGALA LISELI
A WOMAN of Lusaka’s Kamwala Township has demanded K15,000 as compensation for damages from a man who impregnated her daughter.
Josephine Nauluta told the court that her daughter had been forced out of school because of the pregnancy, adding that the man responsible should account for his sins because he has inconvenienced her.
This is a case where Nauluta sued and demanded for K15,000 from Mutumwa Kangaya, a student for impregnating her daughter.
Nauluta told the court that she tried calling the defendant to so that the two families could sit down but Kangaya failed to show up, forcing her to seek redress from the court.
“Mutumwa impregnated my daughter. She is still young as she was born in 1992 and is still in school doing her grade 11. I want him to compensate me K15,000 for impregnating my daughter,” she said.
Kangaya meanwhile, said he had been in a relationship with Nauluta daughter for two years and accepted responsibility of the pregnancy.
He said he had not avoided meeting Nauluta and her family to talk about the matter but he was waiting for his father who was out before his family could discuss the problem.
He, however, complained that K15,000 was too high for him as he was not working but was just a mere student.
Senior court magistrate Grace Kanta sitting with senior court magistrates Morgan Khayanika and Peggy Nyambe reduced Nauluta’s demands to just K3,000.
The court noted that the defendant was a student who could not afford the K15,000 and ordered Kangaya to compensate Nauluta with K3,000 paying K250 every month starting next month end
The court also advised that Kangaya and his girlfriend to avoid premarital sex but wait for the right time being marriage.