Nigerian, girlfriend, others face manslaughter trial in Zambia
A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Nathaniel Barthram, and four other suspects, including his girlfriend, Maria Zaloumis, have been formally charged in Zambia in connection with the death of 22-year-old Enoch Simfukwe Kasengele.
The case, which originated at the Kabwe Magistrate’s Court, has now been transferred to the High Court for trial after prosecutors amended the charge from murder to manslaughter.
This development paved the way for the court to grant the accused persons bail, according to a report published on Tuesday by Lusaka Times.
Alongside Barthram and Zaloumis, the other defendants named in court documents are Daniel Chiluwa, Fortune Mwitangati, and Gift Daka. They are alleged to have been involved in the incident that led to Kasengele’s death on August 17, 2025, at Onani Farm, located in Kabwe.
Kasengele was reportedly a resident along the Kabwe–Lusaka Road. Barthram, identified as a Nigerian national living at Tuzini Farm, was said to be in a romantic relationship with Zaloumis, a farmer residing at Wonani Farm.
According to earlier reports by Zambian news outlet The Mast, the five suspects made their initial court appearance on September 23. They were originally charged with murder on August 28 following a police investigation.
During the first hearing, Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso read the murder charge, citing Section 200, Chapter 87 of Zambia’s Penal Code.
The court adjourned the case to October 6, pending consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP.
The suspects were then remanded at Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility while awaiting further proceedings.
When the case resumed on Monday, State Advocate Joseph Zimba informed the court that the DPP had reviewed the file and opted to downgrade the charge from murder to manslaughter.
In response, defence lawyers argued that manslaughter is a bailable offence and requested bail for all the accused, pledging their clients’ readiness to meet any conditions set by the court.
The prosecution raised no objection but asked that Barthram surrender his Nigerian passport to ensure he remains within the court’s jurisdiction.
Magistrate Liswaniso subsequently approved bail, setting the amount at K20,000 for each defendant, with two traceable civil servant sureties per person.
The case is now set to proceed to the High Court, where the five accused will stand trial on the manslaughter charge.