Chipata based Post correspondent Peter Sukwa says PF Petauke district youth chairperson Jay Banda’s move to urinate in his mouth was the most inhuman and the worst humiliation that he has ever suffered in his life.
And Banda confused the court when he asked the arresting officer Detective chief inspector Kenneth Chihana whether he belongs to PF or UPND.
On December 10, 2015, Sukwa and his colleague Kelvin Phiri from Feel free radio station was allegedly assaulted by PF cadres led by PF Vubwi chairperson Michael Tembo and Banda.
The two journalists met their fate when they went to Chikoka area to verify reports that PF cadres were aiding Malawians to get Zambian National Registration Cards and voters’ cards.
Tembo was already convicted in a similar case.
Testifying yesterday in a matter where Banda is charged with two counts of assault of occasioning actual bodily harm, Sukwa said Banda started beating him at Mzigawa Primary School when he attempted to take pictures of the Malawians who were being assisted to get NRC’s.
Sukwa also recalled that Banda and his colleagues wanted to burn him with petrol but that they did not do so because they did not have matches.
In cross examination, Banda asked Sukwa whether he saw what urinated in his mouth and what it looked like to which the reporter said he did not see it because he was in pain.
Detective chief inspector Kenneth Chihana stated that he was handed the docket of the case on December 28, 2015 and explained how he investigated the matter before arresting Banda.
But in cross examination, Banda said the arresting officer was biased in his investigation and claimed that he needed to be retrained.
When Banda asked Chihana whether he belonged to PF or UPND, Magistrate Pauline Mulenga reminded him that the officer was non-partisan but that he worked with the government of the day.
Trial continues on September 28, 2016.