The LRF Newsletter

n Armco security officer who was killed as a suspect in the aftermath of the death of the former Finance Minister late Ronald Siame Penza is believed to have not killed Penza and died in a crossfire between the police and bandits at Chazanga Forest.

This came to light on Friday 18th August 2000 in the inquest hearing before the Coroner Mrs. Rose Samakayi who delivered the verdict of the inquest.

The family wanted to know the cause of death of Chayafya and bring to book those who would be found responsible for it. They asked the LRF to represent them.

According to Samakayi, the findings were that the deceased was not involved in the killing of the late Ronald Penza and died in the crossfire at the said forest.

Facts are that on the fateful day of November 6th 1998, Chayafya was picked up from his work place at Stanbic Bank by a group of plain clothes policemen who violently bundled him into a vehicle and took him away.

After an hour he was reported to have been shot dead at Chazanga forest.

The then police spokesman told the nation that Chayafya was in a group of suspects who attempted to stage a robbery at a filling station, and tried to flee after being accosted by police.

An inquest got underway after his death. By 18th April 2000 ten witnesses had testified and the inquest hearing was closed.

Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) lawyer Ngulube Anderson who handled the case and attended the delivery of the finding said the Coroner’s finding was that, there was an exchange of gun fire between the police,who were at the time holding Chayafya and some unknown bandits in Chazanga Forest.

The findings that Chayafya died in a crossfire means that the police cannot be made accountable for his death interms of criminal proceedings for murder.

However,there is still the option of civil proceedings for compensation against the state and the policemen involved in the shoot out.