By James Kunda
LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Davies Chama, a former Zambian defense minister, was sentenced to eight years in prison with hard labor on Friday for shooting a political worker during the general elections ten years ago.
Chama, 60, appeared at the Mongu High Court in the capital of Western Province, about 588 kilometers (365 miles) from Lusaka, in the case in which he and co-accused Brian Nyoni were charged with shooting Mushaukwa Mushaukwa during a 2015 parliamentary by-election campaign.
Nyoni, now a fugitive, received the same sentence and will begin serving it upon arrest, whereas Chama's sentence begins on August 1, the day of his conviction.
Judge John Mbuzi announced the verdict in the case, which stems from a 2015 incident during the Mulobezi parliamentary by-election in Western Province, in which the two were found guilty of acts intended to cause grievous harm to Mushaukwa Mushaukwa, a United Party for National Development (UPND) member whom they shot during a political altercation.
Chama served as defense minister from 2016 to 2021.