Four out of five members of the same family have been acquitted of murder by the Livingstone High Court sitting in Mazabuka, while another relative has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the same charge.
Miyanda Muchongwe, Pathias Muchongwe, Chimuka Muchongwe, Joyce Mwanamoonga, and Moses Moobe were jointly charged with murder, contrary to Section 200 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
They were accused of murdering Margaret Hachintu Habwizu on September 19, 2022, in Monze, on suspicion of witchcraft, a charge they all denied.
The deceased’s house caught fire on the mentioned date, and she died the following day from the burns she sustained.
The main suspect, Miyanda Muchongwe, was allegedly seen by the deceased’s nephew setting the house ablaze.
A witness testified that Miyanda had confessed to setting the house on fire in a phone call.
Earlier, Miyanda had beaten the deceased at his father’s funeral, accusing her of using witchcraft to kill him, but she was rescued by those present.
Miyanda claimed he was in Lusaka on the day of the fire, an alibi the court dismissed.
Chimuka and Moses were implicated for being with Miyanda around the time of the incident.
Pathias and Joyce were named as suspects due to their accusations of witchcraft against the deceased and an outstanding land dispute, but there was insufficient evidence to hold them liable for her death.
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