Zambia’s Court of Appeal has upheld a death penalty slapped on a woman of Ndola who strangled her mother after returning home drunk.

Last year, Ndola High Court judge Yvone Chembe found Hildah Zulu, 25, guilty of killing her mother because she intended to cause death or grievous harm to her mother.

“I am, therefore, persuaded that the prosecution team established malice aforethought in this case, and I find that the accused person murdered the deceased with malice aforethought,” she said.

Justice Chembe established that Zulu was living with her parents and instead of appreciating their love and care, she tortured her mother by living a wayward life.

“With no shame, she admitted before court that she went out drinking the night before and came back the following day around 09:00 hours, leaving her small children in her mother’s care,” she said.

Justice Chembe noted that throughout trial, Zulu did not appear remorseful or hurt that her mother had died, which prompted the court to conclude that she had no love for her mother.