Kachasu Lands Zambian Woman In Jail After Her 2-Month-Old Baby Dies Of Intoxication

The Ndola High Court has sentenced a 35-year-old woman of Ndola to seven years simple imprisonment for causing the death of her two-month-old baby whom she fed a locally brewed beer known as ‘Kachasu’.

Lillian Banda was charged with manslaughter contrary to the laws of Zambia after the death of her son, Christopher Mulenga.

Particulars of the offence are that on April 12, 2021, killed her child after feeding him with Kachasu.

When the matter came up for plea, Banda admitted to the charge of manslaughter.

Facts presented before court by State advocate Innocent Kamunga stated that on April 12, this year at about 21:50 hours, Banda went to report at Kaloko police post that her husband had sat on their child who was two months and a half resulting in his death.

Mr Kamunga said while making the report, Banda was in a drunken state and was failing to communicate properly with the officer she found on duty.

He said the body of the deceased was later taken to Arthur Davison Children’s hospital where a postmortem examination was conducted.

Mr Kamunga said the postmortem results revealed that the child’s death was caused by acute alcohol intoxication.

“Further investigations by the police revealed that it was the accused who caused the alcohol to be administered to the deceased. She was later charged with murder and now the offence was reduced to manslaughter. The accused has admitted to the offence. Lillian Banda had no justification to cause the death of her baby,” he said.

And in mitigation, Banda said she has learnt a lesson on the dangers of alcohol drinking.

Ndola High Court Judge Daniel Musonda censured Banda against taking excessive alcohol as it was detrimental.

“While there is nothing wrong with taking a little alcohol, there is everything wrong to take it in large quantities that make someone reasonably fail,” he said