THE Itezhi-Tezhi Magistrates Court has put a 67-year-old farmer of Itezhi Tezhi on his defense after a Prima Facie was found against him.
Magistrates Mugala Chalwe found David Maanzula with a case to answer in case for assaulting a man suspected to be his wife’s lover.
This was in a case where Maanzula, a resident of Kaundu area in Chief Shimbizhi’s chiefdom in Itezhi Tezhi in Central Province, is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm contrary to section 248 Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence allege that on 6th May 2020 in Itezhi Tezhi , Maanzula assaulted Bright Maingaila thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
When the case came up for continued trial before Magistrate Chalwe, arresting officer Collins Mbulu of Itezhi Tezhi of Itezhi, told the court that on 15 May 2020, he was allocated a docket of case in which Bright Maingaila, reported that had been assaulted in Kaindu area of Itezhi Tezhi.
He said that that a baton and kicks were alleged to have been used on assaulting the victim who sustained bruises on left side of the head.
“Having read the docket, I found a medical certificate attached which showed that he had sustained injuries. An interview revealed he was beaten because he allegedly had a love affair with Maanzula’s wife” Mbulu said.
And in his defence, David Maanzula explained that he had a marital dispute with his wife which led to their brief separation.
He said that whilst on separation, his wife allegedly started having an affair with Maingaila.
Maingaila said that later he went to her parents’ home and convinced her to reconcile with him but a few weeks after they got together, he stated experiencing pain when urinating and that his wife was also complaining of back pain.
Maanzula explained that at the District hospital where they went as a couple for treatment, they were diagnosed with syphilis after which his wife revealed that it was Bright Maingaila who had infected her when pressed by her husband who had infected her with the disease.
Acting on the wife’s revelation, he confronted Maingaila and took him to village headman and when he refused to cooperate he whisked him off to Itezhi Tezhi police station.
“I came to realize that he fabricated a story that I assaulted him in order to stop me from suing him for adultery with my wife,” Maanzula explained.
The case has since been adjourned to August 11 for judgment.
– ZANIS
