Grandpa Mwape’s lawyer gets recognition
HAVING initially pleaded guilty to the charge of drug trafficking, it appeared there was only one way for 81-year-old Tie Mwape, who had spent Christmas and New Year in detention – a prison sentence of some sort.
The outcome of such cases before courts are well known, even for the most popular as was the case with musicians Nasty D (Davis Ngoma) and Maiko Zulu.
But when Petronella Kafumbe and colleagues from the Legal Aid Board took on the case of the octogenarian, who had been pleading before court to be released from remand, the dynamics changed and the case ended with an acquittal.
For her efforts during the case, she has received recognition from a Zambia-based organisation, Vangeli, which has honoured her with the ‘Outstanding Zambian Citizen’ award.
Vangeli, a media and creative agency, is impressed with Ms Kafumbe’s dedication to represent accused persons, particularly those seen to be vulnerable, on a pro bono basis using her position as a legal assistant at the Legal Aid Board…