By Isaac Zulu
A 37-year old woman has been sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for stabbing her husband with a knife.
Before Kapiri Mposhi magistrate Mwila Malupande was Sabina Mulenga, a resident of Matilyo Compound in Kapiri Mposhi district, who stood charged with one count of unlawful wounding.
It is alleged that on December 17, 2023 around 23:30 hours Sabina Mulenga stabbed her husband by the name of George Ngoma, 44 with a knife, which amounted to unlawful wounding contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
When the matter came before court, Mulenga readily admitted the charge of unlawful wounding.
According to facts presented by the prosecution, Mulenga, on the material day around 20:00 hours went home drunk and when the husband tried to inquire where she had gone, she started insulting him but he ignored her.
Around 23:30 hours, Ngoma woke up and the wife continued insulting him and at the time he wanted to confront her, she produced a knife and stabbed him on the left side of the chest.
Ngoma was only rescued by some neighbours who rushed him to the local hospital and later took Mulenga to the police.
The local hospital could not, however, treat Ngoma but instead referred him to Kabwe General Hospital where he underwent medical treatment and was only discharged from the hospital after three days.
In mitigation, Mulenga asked the court to exercise leniency on her, saying she has a child with Ngoma and four children from her first husband.
But in her judgment, magistrate Malupande observed that Mulenga is a violent woman, adding that had her husband not sought early medical treatment, he would have died.
She said in order to deter would be offenders, the court has to mete out a custodial sentence on her.
Magistrate Malupande then sentenced Mulenga to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from the day of her arrest.
