A Kabwe magistrate in Zambia ’s central province today jailed Barry Chibale 36, for 21 months imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding contrary to section 232 (a) chapter 87 of the penal code of the laws of Zambia
As the Principal Resident Magistrate Joushua Banda pronounced the verdict, Chibale broke down and wept uncontrollably, as he was led to the cells.
Chibale is a government driver at Nkrumah University
Facts before the court were that, in the first count, on 18th July this year Chibale of house number 91 Chowa compound, unlawfully wounded his wife Rutendo Bobo 28 during a marital wrangle and sliced off part of her nose using a castle broken bottle.
In the second count on the same date, Chibale unlawfully wounded Harriet Mutale 28 of house number 45 New Chirwa railways compound in Kabwe.
Passing judgement in respect of the first count, Principal Resident Magistrate Banda said the offence committed by Chibale was a serious one.
Magistrate Banda said although Chibale showed remorse and was a first offender, his action was unforgivable.
In mitigation earlier, Chibale’s lawyer, Mwiinga Cheelo, pleaded with the court to exercise at most leniency on him since he showed remorse and regretted the action he took.
Mr. Cheelo said Chibale had learnt a lesson and would be desist from being violent and use of force to resolve matrimonial issues.
The court set August 16 and 20 for continued trial in respect of the second count in which Chibale unlawfully wounded Harriet Mutale contrary to section 232 (a) of the laws of Zambia.
And Yong Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Kabwe commended the outcome of the case saying people should believe in justice if they were to learn how to respect the law.
YWCA central province officer Juliet Kawanda said this should be a lesson for would be offenders.
She said people should not take the law into their own hands and they should learn that gender was real.
ZANIS
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