Kitwe Cleaner Testifies In Poisoning Case

By MWILA NTAMBI
A CLEANER working for Sweet Corner Guest House in Kitwe has testified in a case in which his former workmate is accused of poisoning a client.
This is in a case where Regina Kabuswe, 48, has been indicted for murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the case are that Kabuswe, on May 10 last year, in Kitwe murdered Ronald Mwamba, she denied the charge.
When the matter came up for trial before Kitwe High Court judge Catherine Makungu on thursday, Dennis Daka told the court that he was at work when one of his workmates informed him that a client had fallen ill in one of the rooms.
Mr Daka, 24, of house No. 222 Buchi Township in Kitwe testified that when he and another workmate went to the room where the client had fallen ill, Kabuswe opened the door and that the client was lying on the bed whilst vomiting and sweating.
Mr Daka testified that the late Mr Mwamba was rushed to the hospital where he was immediately admitted.
He testified that 40 minutes after leaving the hospital, he learnt that Mr Mwamba had died.
Mr Daka testified that later, clients at the guest house started complaining of a foul smell that was coming from the room where the late Mr Mwamba lodged.
He said when he went to clean the room, a silver pen that appeared like a marker dropped from the pillow and that the pen-like item in question produced a bad smell.
Mr Daka said the item was taken to his boss and later to the police.
And a Kitwe Central Hospital pathologist told the court that the post mortem conducted on the late Mr Mwamba indicated that he had been poisoned.
Dr Olga testified that Mr Mwamba’s stomach contained traces of metal powder and that his liver and kidneys had changed colour.
She added that aluminium phosphate was found in his blood and urine.
Trial continues.