Zaloumis, 4 others freed on bail
By Thandizo Banda
THE State has reduced the murder charge against Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Mangala Zaloumis’ daughter, Maria, her Nigerian boyfriend Nathaniel Barthram and three others to manslaughter.
Zaloumis and her co-accused were granted bail after the case was committed to the High Court for trial yesterday.
The court ordered Maria, Barthram and three others to pay K20, 000 bail each in their own recognisance with two working sureties who must be traceable civil servants as part of their bail conditions.
The suspects are Maria Francis Zeleni Zaloumis, widely known as the “Zed Farmer”, aged 40, of Wonani Farm; Nathaniel Barthram, a 34-year-old Nigerian; and Daniel Chiluwa, 40, a farm manager of Onani Farm No. 5 in Montana.
Others are Fortune Mwitangati, 23, of Nyambe Farm, and Gift Daka, 25, also of Onani Farm, who are alleged to have murdered Enock Simfukwe Kasengele on August 17, 2025, contrary to Section 200 Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
When the case came up for mention in the Kabwe Magistrate’s Court yesterday, State Advocate Joseph Zimba informed a fully packed courtroom that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to the case with a reduced charge of manslaughter, contrary to Section 199 of the Penal Code of the Laws of Zambia.
The move prompted the defence through lawyer Keith Katazo, to apply for bail for the accused persons pending trial.
“Given that the subject offence of manslaughter is a bailable matter, we humbly seek bail for the accused persons in line with Section 123 of the Criminal Procedure Code Act 88 of the Laws of Zambia,” Katazo said.
He further submitted that A2 (Maria Zaloumis) was a renowned Zambian farmer of fixed abode who was willing to comply with the bail conditions.
“With regard to A1 [Nathaniel Barthram], the Nigerian national, he is a Zambian resident residing at Tuzini Farm, where he conducts farming activities, and is willing to surrender any form of documentation as fulfilment of the bail conditions. The other three accused persons are indigenous citizens who do not intend to run away or make the work of the court difficult,” he said.
Another defence lawyer, Macqueen Zaza, explained that there was no likelihood of the accused persons interfering with State witnesses when granted bail, as they intended to bring credible sureties.
Earlier, another defence lawyer, Mapange Nsapato, argued that the accused ought to be treated as innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
State Advocate Zimba did not object to the bail application, saying it was the accused’s constitutional right.
“However, we are alive to the fact that A1 is a foreign national [Nigerian] who should surrender his passport as part of bail conditions,” he said.
Kabwe Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso committed the matter to the Kabwe High Court for summary trial.
“I have heard the submissions from both the defence and State and order that the accused persons, after meeting bail conditions, report to any nearest police station every fortnight on Friday pending trial at the High Court for manslaughter. I also order A1 [Barthram] to surrender his Nigerian passport to the authorities as part of his bail. The accused remain in custody until they satisfy their bail condition,” Magistrate Liswaniso ruled.
The accused are represented by lawyers Keith Katazo from Legal Aid, Maya Mwanawasa from Dove Chambers, Mapange Nsapato from Nsapato Advocates, and McQueen Zaza from Chiwala Boniface Legal Practitioners.
