Former MPs Chilangwa, Chitotela to appeal convictions and sentences

Former Kawambwa Member of Parliament, Nickson Chilangwa, and Pambashe MP Ronald Chitotela have filed a notice of intention to appeal their recent convictions and sentences handed down by the Kawambwa Magistrate Court.

Chilangwa was sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour for malicious damage to property, while Chitotela was convicted of arson and committed to the High Court for sentencing.

The appeal cited 12 grounds of contention, including errors in law and fact, inconsistent evaluation of witness testimonies, and disregard for independent defense witnesses.

The defense also alleged judicial bias and contested the severity of the punishments for misdemeanor counts.

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Chitotela faces a minimum 10-year sentence for arson, while Chilangwa received a five-year sentence for malicious damage, plus additional sentences for threatening violence and occasioning actual bodily harm committed during the August 2021 elections.

The sentences would run concurrently.

Other involved individuals include Kalumba Chifumbe, Davy Kaniki, Chabu Chitotela, Charity Musantu, and Kunda Chitotela.

Chifumbe was sentenced to five years for malicious damage to property, threatening violence, and threatening actual bodily harm. Kaniki and Kunda Chitotela were found guilty of arson, while Musantu was acquitted on all charges.

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