Court Dismisses Child Kidnapping Case

Thyolo Second Grade Magistrate’s Court has dismissed a highly controversial child kidnapping case following the failure of the complainant, Mrs. Mary Khozombe, to bring overwhelming evidence against the accused, Mr. Blessings Mangila and Arnold Zuze.

The two were accused of kidnapping an 8 year old boy, Christopher Lingson, who went missing at Thomondo village in the area of Traditional Authority Nsabwe on 6th February this year and is yet to be found.

The missing of the young boy caused waves in February and led to several episodes of chaos and fracas where irate villagers demolished houses and destroyed properties belonging to some perceived suspects.

The villagers, in a mob justice attack, also burnt another suspect, Nobu Maguza, who later died at Queen’s Elizabeth Central Hospital in the same month.

It is reported that soon after the boy’s missing, the relatives consulted a local herbalist to identify his prospective kidnappers. Reportedly, the herbalist implicated the two mentioned accused and deceased as the perpetrators of the act, a development which eventually sparked the riots.

Second Grade Magistrate John Mphwahiwa stated that the complainant presented to the court two contradicting evidence.

He also observed that the complainant was making her allegations based on the findings of a witch doctor-which is not admissible in the court of law.

The magistrate therefore acquitted the two accused of the charges.

Meanwhile, Thyolo police is keeping in custody two other suspects for allegedly inciting violence relating to the same case.