Man jailed for stealing from Church

Mulenga Musonda writes
@sunzambian
The Choma Magistrates Court has convicted a 26 years old man for stealing from a Church even though he claimed that his actions were caused by Demons that continuously torment him.
In this matter Foster Mulenga of Choma’s Chandamali Township was sentenced to 6 months simple imprisonment by Resident Magistrate Ethel Phiri for Theft Contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that Mulenga on October 20 stole 100 blocks valued at K700 the property of Healing Chapel Church of Choma.
When he appeared for plea before Court, Mulenga understood and pleaded guilty to the charge read to him by the Court through the Interpreter Luckson Sibalwa in Tonga the language he was comfortable with.
Court: Have you understood the charge?
Mulenga: Yes
Court: How do you plead?
Mulenga: I admit
Court: You admit that you stole the Blocks?
Mulenga: Yes
Court: Were you owed anything?
Mulenga: No
Court: Were you allowed to take the blocks?
Mulenga: No, I was just used by the Evil Spirits.
Court: How did you know that?
Mulenga: I always feel it when it enters me, and when
it does I resort to doing bad things (courtroom bursts into laughter)
Court: Did you have any claim of right?
Mulenga: No
Court: I record a plea of guilty.
According to the Facts dictated by Public Prosecutor Pearson Chilumbu, the accused was found loading the blocks around 05:00hrs in a Canter with four people that he had hired by the Church Caretaker.
He was taken to Choma Central Police Station were upon questioning by Detective Justin Kainga he failed to give a satisfactory answer.
Despite Mulenga pleading for lenience and requesting that he be given a second chance so he could seek the face of God and repent, Magistrate Phiri wondered why he sought to steal from Church instead of seeking healing from the Evil Spirits that constantly tormented him.