By 
Tears of relief and sorrow filled the courtroom as the family of Dr. Tasila Tembo finally received justice for her brutal murder.
Nigel Mwaba, a former Zambia Army officer and Dr. Tembo’s former lover, was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour for the crime.
Family representative, Ezekiel Zulu, expressed the family’s mixed emotions, saying that while the life sentence would not bring back their loved one, it would offer them some measure of closure.
“Tasila was a loving mother of four daughters, whose lives will never be the same without her,” Zulu said, fighting back tears. “We have waited for over four years for justice, and today, we can begin to heal.”
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The court’s verdict ended a lengthy and emotional trial that exposed the dark reality of domestic violence and abuse.
The prosecution presented evidence from 27 witnesses, including forensic pathologist Dr. Luchenga Muchelenganga, who testified that Dr. Tembo’s death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head due to an assault.
Mwaba’s defense team argued that he suffered from borderline personality disorder, impairing his mental responsibility.
However, Justice Sharon Newa ruled that Mwaba had fully understood the events surrounding him and had intentionally caused harm to Dr. Tembo.
In her ruling, Justice Newa emphasized the severity of the crime and the need for a deterrent sentence. She stated that Mwaba’s actions were premeditated and intentional, and that he had shown no remorse for his crime.
The court heard that as the relationship progressed, Mwaba moved into Dr. Tembo’s home, where he became increasingly aggressive and abusive. His toxic behavior not only affected Dr. Tembo but also had a profound impact on her children.
Further testimony revealed that Mwaba’s significant debt had caused stress for Dr. Tembo, with debtors constantly harassing her for payment. The situation grew so dire that Dr. Tembo confided in her aunt, revealing she had gone without food for five days due to the strain of their relationship.
In a chilling revelation, Justice Newa highlighted text messages from Mwaba, including “Tasila is an animal, does not deserve to live” and “if I can’t have you, no one will.”
These messages, the judge stated, were clear evidence that Mwaba intended to cause grievous harm to Dr. Tembo.
Mwaba had also blackmailed Dr. Tembo, threatening to expose her nude pictures on social media if she ended their abusive relationship.
This attempt to control her further underscored the toxic and violent nature of his actions, which ultimately led to Dr. Tembo’s brutal murder.
The court’s verdict brought an end to the tragic chapter, but for the family, the fight for justice was long and painful.
The sentence offered some closure, but the scars of the loss remain, especially for Dr. Tembo’s four young daughters who now face life without their mother.
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