In a notable development before Kabwe Resident Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso this morning, the murder charges against four accused individuals have been revised to manslaughter. This significant change comes with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Gilbert Phiri, exercised under section 199 of the Penal Code. The accused are implicated in the death of 20-year-old Enock Simfukwe, an incident that took place at a farm situated in Central Province. Following this revision, their case has been committed to the high court for trial, and they have been granted bail, each set at K20,000 with the requirement of two working sureties.

The individuals accused of causing the death of Enock Simfukwe at Ms. Zaloumi’s farm include Ms. Zaloumi herself, her Nigerian husband Nathaniel Barthrem (34), farm manager Daniel Chiluwa (40), Fortune Mwitangati (23), and Gift Daka (25). This progression in their legal proceedings marks a crucial turn in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

However, the DPP's decision has not gone without severe criticism. Mwamba has publicly accused Gilbert Phiri of abusing his powers, alleging that these actions are intended to favor individuals connected to President Hakainde Hichilema. Mwamba highlighted a stark contrast between Phiri's conduct in the Simfukwe case and his typical prosecutorial approach. According to Mwamba, in numerous cases against former government officials, Phiri consistently opposes bail, actively seeks maximum punishment for offenders, and rarely pursues rational, lenient, or favorable charges. Mwamba further detailed that Phiri has a history of appealing cases where accused persons have secured victories, referencing instances such as the Honey Bee or Lt. Gen Eric Chimese’s cases, and has been responsible for approving what Mwamba describes as "obnoxious and oppressive charges," including draconian sedition charges against critics of the President.

Focusing specifically on the Simfukwe case, Mwamba asserted that despite what he considered "strong evidence," Phiri opted to unilaterally reduce the charges from murder to manslaughter. Furthermore, Mwamba criticized Phiri for not opposing bail and for failing to object to the potential flight risk presented by the foreign national involved in the matter. Mwamba concluded his critique by noting that Kabwe Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso was readily available to grant bail under what he termed "utmost favourable conditions," and expressed a wish for "the soul of Enoch Simfukwe rest in eternal peace." This controversy casts a shadow of doubt over the impartiality and integrity of the prosecutorial system in Zambia.