COURT ORDERS TRADER TO PRAY FOR WOMAN HE THREATENED TO KILL

COURT ORDERS TRADER TO PRAY FOR WOMAN HE THREATENED TO KILL

A session at Kabushi Local Court almost became a church service as everyone shouted “amen” after a 63- year old man was ordered to pray for a lady he threatened to kill.

In this case, Richard Kananga, a trader was sued by Dikilani Ndovu, a council worker for compensation for threats.

Ndovu told the court that she was doing her usual work of revenue collection when she found Kananga with nine bags of Okra.

“I told him (Kananga that he was supposed to pay the council K5 for each bag which was amounting to K45 for nine bags.

“But he refused to pay causing an exchange of words between him and myself. That was when I decided to leave and get back to him later,” she said.

Ndovu said that just when she decided to leave, the defendant told her to be careful and that the same way a named council worker died was how she would also die.

“He said am behaving in the same manner as the late colleague, Mwana was behaving and that I would die just like him to if am not careful,” she said.

Kananga defended himself by saying he did not threaten to kill the plaintiff but only told her not to trouble marketers like the late council worker used to.

“Your Honor, I only said don’t be like your late colleague, Mwana. Don’t trouble people like he used to. And the reason I said this was because I did not have the K45 to pay for the bags of Okra but she refused to reason with me.” He said.

The court upheld the case and ordered the defendant to compensate the plaintiff with K1,000 to be paid in monthly installments.

Local court Magistrate, John Kabwe who sat with Magistrate, Emeldah Masuwa, advised the defendant to have a better choice of words as things mean differently from one person to another.

“You cannot compare the dead to the living, someone can definitely call you a witch. Even when you are not one,” he sad.

He then ordered Kananga to renounce his words and speak long life on Ndovu in a word of prayer.

After being prayed for, Ndovu forgave Kananga and told him not to compensate her and the whole court shouted “Amen”.

Picture used for illustration purposes only!

Photo Credit: Tisa the Trendsetter

Credit: Zambia daily Mail.