By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –

THE nine people, who were arrested earlier this month for stealing maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depot in Lusaka worth more than K12,000 have admitted the charge.
But the suspects told the court that they were only called in by a security guard to do piece work of loading the maize.
They told the court that they did not know the destination of the maize they helped to load on the truck as they were just invited for piece work.
Their explanation resulted in Lusaka magistrate, Wendy Chibesakunda entering pleas of not guilty for all the nine, saying they had some defence to give to the court.
This is in a matter in which the alleged mastermind Paul Brown Shumba together with eight others is facing one count of breaking into a building and committing a felony therein.
The nine, who are aged between 28 and 31 residing in different Lusaka townships of Matero, George, Zingalume and Desai are alleged to have on August 31, 2014 jointly and while acting together with intent to steal broken and entered into the FRA warehouse.
They stole 176 bags of white maize valued at K12,320,000, the property of the FRA.
Ms Chibesakunda said since they all had explanations to give as to why they stole the maize, she was entering pleas of not against so that they could explain.
She remanded them in custody and set September 24, 2014 and October 6, 2014 as dates for mention, while trial will commence on October 17, 2014.