By Mwaka Ndawa
FORMER Copperbelt deputy commissioner Bothwell Namuswa has been taken to court for the 2016 shooting of a UPND cadre in his buttocks during a scuffle at the Lusaka High Court.
Namuswa 49, a police officer of plot no.647 Obama, Lusaka, is facing a charge of causing grievous harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable
It is alleged that Namuswa on December 15, 2016, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable grievously harmed Peter Masani.
Namuswa appeared before magistrate Sheila Mweene and had the charge explained to him but he could not take plea as the offence is only tried by the High Court.
“The matter is triable by the High Court, the Subordinate court has no jurisdiction to try this case. You will be appearing before me for mention until the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) issues instructions for committal to the High Court,” said magistrate Mweene.
Namuswa looked humbled during his court appearance.
On the date in question, Masani and other UPND cadres had gathered at the High Court premises to offer solidarity to President Hakainde Hichilema and his then deputy Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamaba who were appearing before late judge Mwila Chitabo.
President Hichilema and Mwamba petitioned the decision of the Constitutional Court to dismiss the 2016 presidential election petition
without hearing the matter.
The two argued that the court infringed on their rights to be heard when it dismissed the case on a technicality that the 14 days in which to have the case heard had elapsed.
After the matter was adjourned, the cadres who had gathered at the High Court roundabout attempted to enter the court premises so that they could be briefed about the proccedings.
The cadres were denied entry and they engaged in an altercation with the police and a fight ensued.
Namuswa who was armed with a pistol shot Masani in the process.
Masani still moves with the bullet in his buttocks as doctors at University Teaching Hospital failed to extract it.
According to Masani, the doctors who attended to him indicated that he would be crippled as his left leg would not function after the operation and that he was likely to suffer from cancer.
The matter comes up on February 24 for mention.