Trial of female soldier accused of assaulting police officer delayed as complainant fails to appear

The highly anticipated trial of Alinani Ng’ambi, a 29-year-old female soldier accused of assaulting a police officer, failed to commence after the complainant was absent.

Ng’ambi, described as strikingly fit and confident, is charged with attacking Sergeant Kaluba Mataka (Badge No. 40618) on January 15, 2025, an assault that allegedly left the officer with a disfigured face.

Read more: Female soldier maintains innocence after appearing in court for allegedly brutalizing a male police officer in Lusaka

Appearing in court draped in a traditional chitenge, Ng’ambi hardly looked like an aggressor.

However, the proceedings were stalled when state prosecutor Brian Siayengo informed Magistrate Amy Masoja that Mataka was unavailable due to work-related commitments.

With no witnesses present, the prosecution requested an adjournment, a motion that defense lawyers Boniface Chiwala and McQueen Zaza did not oppose.

However, they urged the state to secure witnesses for the next hearing to prevent further delays.

After brief deliberations, Magistrate Masoja adjourned the matter for mention on March 25, with the trial scheduled for April 1 and 2.

The case stems from an incident in which Mataka allegedly ordered Ng’ambi to stop her vehicle to clear the way for a motorcade, a directive that prosecutors claim led to the altercation.

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