By KASONDE KASONDE? –
FORMER Kabwe mayor Moses Mwansa has been found with a case to answer and put on his defence in an assault case.
Mwansa is facing an assault charge for hitting a council police officer.
Mwansa on February 7, assaulted Fidelis Mubela for attempting to close his bar.
In passing the ruling, Kabwe magistrate Sebastian Mwenya said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt a case against Mwansa.
Mwansa asked the court to give him time to organise himself and provide witnesses.
During trial, the prosecution brought in five witnesses, Mubela the complainant told court that when the officers entered Mwansa’s bar, they asked people to leave and told him that they would close the bar as it was operating after the stipulated hours.
Mubela told court that Mr Mwansa got upset and stopped the officers from closing the bar, saying they would only do that after 2016.
Mwansa angrily left the bar and returned later with a shovel but was quickly stopped by the wife.
Mubela told court that Mwansa punched him on the left cheek and left hand after which he ripped off part of his uniform.
Another witness, a Police officer Robinson Manunga, told court that when officers approached Mwansa he got furious and after he was apprehended, he jumped out of the car and went behind the bar.
Mr Manunga said the bar area was surrounded by a lot of people who were watching what was happening and they advised the officers to leave as they suspected that Mwansa had gone to get a firearm.
Defence has been set for May 5.