TONSE Alliance mayoral candidate Jones Kalyati was sentenced to 12 months in prison with hard labor for threatening to shoot a resident.
Kalyati, 49, a former mayor, was convicted of one count of threatening violence by Ndola Magistrate Brian Simachela.
The court heard that on Jan. 24, 2026, Kalyati threatened to shoot Alexander Mwamba after suspecting that United Party for National Development cadres were involved in illegal land allocations.
Simachela said the prosecution called five witnesses and the defense called four. Witnesses identified Kalyati and provided direct evidence linking him to the offense.
The magistrate said evidence showed Kalyati pointed a gun at Mwamba, who knew Kalyati was carrying a pistol at the time.
In his defense, Kalyati produced photographs he claimed were taken Jan. 24, 2026. The court determined the photos were taken Jan. 25, 2026, by a person identified as T.C. Mulenga.
Kalyati also denied knowing Mwamba, despite previously referring to him as a zonal leader.
In mitigation, defense lawyer Kenneth Tembo told the court his client was a first-time offender and was remorseful. Tembo said Kalyati was seeking to contest the mayoral election in this year’s general election and asked for leniency.
Simachela rejected the plea.
“You are supposed to conduct yourself as a mayor and not like you are from the street,” the magistrate said. “So, I exercise my maximum leniency by sentencing you to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labor, effective today.”
(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 11th August, 2026)