Court ‘frees’ dead Nawakwi from Hatembo case
By Esther Chisola
THE State yesterday discontinued the abduction case against dead Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi.
Nawakwi was facing two counts of kidnapping or abducting with intent to confine a person and threatening violence at the time of her death.
When the matter came up for continued trial, the State presented the letter from Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Gilbert Phiri to enter a nolle prosequi because of her death.
“Your Honour, with the unfortunate timely death of the accused, we have a letter from the DPP where a nolle prosequi is being entered in the matter,” said a representative of the State.
Magistrate Army Masoja disconnected the matter.
In this matter, Nawakwi was facing two counts of abduction contrary to Section 253 and 256 Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Nawakwi, the first female finance minister, a business executive and farmer was alleged to have between August 31, 2021 and September 1, 2022, while acting with others unknown, with intent to cause injury or harm, threatened to kill Pheluna and Milton Hatembo to which she said “I will kill you by chopping your head if you tell anyone whatever I discuss”.
She was further accused of abducting Pheluna and Milton from Choma in Southern Province to Lusaka with intent to cause them to be secretly and wrongly confined against their wishes.
Nawakwi died after a long battle with cancer in April while receiving medical treatment in a South African hospital.
Her death followed a prolonged illness for which she had been undergoing specialist treatment, including multiple trips to India over the past two years.
