A chilling case of betrayal and violence from Chaisa Compound has ended with the garden boy-turned-aggressor losing his freedom.
Yona Banda 34, has been sentenced to two years and six months of hard labour for assaulting his female employer, Pingiwe Phiri, in an incident that unfolded on October 3, 2024.
According to court records, Banda, employed to maintain the household, allegedly entered his employer’s bedroom uninvited while she slept.
Startled, Pingiwe confronted him, but events took a dark turn. She testified that Banda shoved her, causing her to fall headfirst, and then proceeded to strangle her.
“I struggled to breathe as he pressed his knee into my stomach and covered my mouth, threatening to rape and kill me if I screamed,” Pingiwe recounted.
The situation escalated until her son intervened, disrupting Banda’s advances. Pingiwe managed to escape and raise the alarm, alerting a tenant who detained the accused.
Banda denied the charges, claiming he had only entered the bedroom to demand three months of unpaid wages.
He alleged that Pingiwe slapped him first, leading to a heated exchange. However, his defense quickly unraveled under scrutiny.
Witnesses and medical evidence corroborated Pingiwe’s account, revealing bruises on her neck and knees consistent with assault.
Lusaka Magistrate Kawama Mwamfuli delivered the verdict, stating that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“The injuries sustained by the victim align with her account of events. The accused’s defense lacks credibility and sincerity,” stated the magistrate.
