he Chisamba Magistrate Court has set January 19, 2026, for judgement in a case involving a 28-year-old man accused of stealing a centre pivot gearbox, and two tyre rings valued at K14, 400 from his employer. Charles Kavwema of Chisamba’s Old Location Compound is charged with theft, a charge he denied when the matter came up for plea before Magistrate Litungi Litungi. It is alleged that between December 9 and 13 last year, Kavwema, while employed as a security guard by Nyimba Estate Farm, stole one Zimmatic gearbox for a center pivot and two tyre rings all valued at K14,400.00.
Three prosecution witnesses have since testified in the matter tendering a centre pivot gearbox and two tyre rings into evidence before the state rested its case. The witnesses told the court that the accused, who was on duty on the material day, was apprehended at a nearby bush where he had hidden the stolen items after his fellow security guard laid an ambush. Kasiano Himoonga, 30, a Game Ranger at Nyimba Estate, earlier testified that after he discovered that one of the eight gear boxes was missing from the workshop, he trailed the shoe marks and found the gearbox with two tyre rings hidden at a nearby bush.
“When I reported for work on 10th December, 2025 at around 09:00 hours, I passed through the workshop where the eight gear boxes for the centre pivot were kept and found one was missing,” Mr Himoonga said. Magistrate Litungi found the accused with a prima facie case, consistent with Section 207(1) of Zambia’s Criminal Procedure Code, and put him on his defence. Kavwema did not call any witness and opted for silence after the court explained his defence rights.
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It was after Magistrate Litungi set a date for judgment that Kavwema applied for bail to which the state did not raise any objection. The court granted the accused bail of K20,000, which amount will be forfeited if he fails to appear in court. Magistrate Litungi further told the accused to present two sureties that include one who must be of a fixed abode, and the other must be gainfully employed by a reputable company.
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