The Livingstone High Court, sitting in Mazabuka district in Zambia, has sentenced a 22-year-old man from Pemba district to 3 years imprisonment with hard labor for causing the death of his girlfriend.

Austin Chibi Malimba was charged with manslaughter, contrary to section 199 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

On 7th February 2024, in Pemba district, Malimba unlawfully caused the death of Covia Milambo.

The incident began on 12th December 2022, around 12:00, when the deceased was with her sister at Mayaba Simacha’s house in Sinchomba, Pemba district.

A man arrived and began chatting with the deceased under a mango tree near the house.

Malimba arrived a few minutes later and, angered by what he saw, confronted the deceased, accusing her of having an affair with the man.

This led to a physical confrontation during which Malimba slapped and hit the deceased on her head.

The deceased complained of a severe headache and was taken to Kanchomba Clinic for treatment.

She succumbed to her injuries on 7th February 2024 at Monze Mission Hospital, where she had been transferred.

A postmortem revealed that she suffered severe head injuries due to blunt force trauma.

At the time of his arrest, Malimba was in Grade 11.