By DELPHINE ZULU –
THE Lusaka Magistrate’s court has committed opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), Chilanga Member of Parliament Keith Mukata and his lover, Charmaine Musonda, to  the High Court for murder trial.
Mukata, 45, a lawyer and Musonda, 37, a business executive of 2158 Lusaka West, were committed to the High Court yesterday by Lusaka Magistrate Ireen Wishimanga after receiving a certificate of committal.
The duo is facing one count of murder for the killing of an elderly security guard while he was on duty at one of  Mukata’s properties last month.

MUKATA

Particulars of the offence are that the duo jointly and whilst acting together did murder Namakau Kalila Kwenda ,63, a security guard of Lusaka’s Ngombe Township, at Mukata’s law firm in Rhodes Park on May 6, this year.
The two had been appearing for mention before Magistrate Wishimanga until yesterday when she received instructions to commit the matter for trial.
The charge was explained to  Mukata and Musonda who said they both understood the offence but could not take plea because the lower court had no jurisdiction to proceed with the matter.
And another Magistrate’s Court has also committed a traditional healer Chilufya Chileya commonly known as ‘Dr’ Kalonga Kanono to the high court for trial in an attempted murder case.
Kanono, 39, a resident of Makeni Villa in Lusaka and still in custody is alleged to have on January 15, this year unlawfully attempted to murder his sister, Josephine Chilufya.
Magistrate Albert Mwaba referred Kanono’s case to high court for trial after the State informed her that they have received a certificate of committal.
Mr Mwaba further dismissed Kanono’s application on the need to open an inquiry in the matter to ascertain what led to the shooting.