By KASONDE KASONDE and DELPHINE ZULU –
KEITH Mukata, the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Chilanga Member of Parliament Keith Mukata and his wife, Charmaine, have been charged with the murder of a security guard.
The two were arrested last week for allegedly killing 63-year-old Namakau Kwenda, a security guard with Men in Black Security Company who was on duty at Mukata’s law firm in Rhodes Park, Lusaka.

MUKATA

Mukata yesterday appeared in the Lusaka magistrates’ court on a charge of murder yesterday but his wife was absent. She had reportedly taken ill.
Her absence caused Mukata’s case not to be mentioned before magistrate Ireen Wishimanga.
When the matter came up for mention and explanation of the charge – murder is tried in the High Court – defence lawyer Bonaventure Mutale said Charmaine was admitted to a private hospital within Lusaka.
Other members of the defence team are Lubinda Linyama and Bwalya Mukusa.
Magistrate Wishimanga told the accused that she could not proceed to mention his case and explain the charge on account of his co-accused who was not present in court.
Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said Mukata and his wife  were on Thursday jointly charged with murder and the docket sent to the National Prosecutions Authority for further dealing.
“We have arrested and charged Mukata and his wife Charmaine with murder and the two remain in police custody. However, Charmine fell ill and was taken to a private hospital where she is admitted,” Ms Katongo said.
She said the shooting incident happened last Saturday at AKM Legal Practitioners, a law firm belonging to Mukata on Alex Masala Close in Lusaka’s Rhodes Park suburb.
Ms Katongo said patrons from Spice Restaurant, which is next to the law firm, rushed to the scene after hearing a gunshot and found Mukata shouting for help and stating that someone had been shot and the assailants had run away.
She said police officers rushed to the scene where they found the deceased lying in the corner of the yard next to the gate.
An empty cartridge was picked from the scene and a pistol with six rounds of ammunition was retrieved from a basket in the boot of a charcoal grey BMW vehicle, registration number BCA 7262.
The matter has been adjourned to May 19, 2017 for mention.