– Meya Masumba allegedly asked her maid to hide the blood-stained pick
CHOMBA MUSIKA
Lusaka
A JUDGE has heard how a woman accused of killing her husband phoned her maid and instructed her to collect a bloodstained pickhead in the house and hide it.
According to submitted evidence, the time Meya Masumba asked her maid, Esther Miti, to hide the pick, the former’s husband, Francisco Miti, was nursing fatal injuries after a reported robbery at their house.
Esther testified that Ms Masumba told her to collect “something” covered in a T-shirt in the house and hide it in the tenant’s toilet.
“I found the black T-shirt and the ‘thing’ that was inside. After I lifted it, I found that it was heavy, so I checked…I found that it was a pick without a handle…it had blood stains…”
Ms Masumba, a former secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, together with two herbalists, is accused of killing Dr Miti, a former director for the Seed Control and Certification Institute.
The 55-year-old, of Mount Makulu, Chilanga, is charged with Florence Banda, 43, and Yamikani Banda, 50, in connection with Dr Miti’s death on August 24, 2024.
The victim died at University Teaching Hospitals after suffering injuries following a reported robbery at his house.
During trial yesterday, Esther, 44, said she worked for the Mitis since October 2013.
The witness, who lives in Linda, said on the morning of August 17, 2024, she reported for work in the morning and found Ms Masumba helping Dr Miti to prepare for church.
“Dr Miti was going to bless a marriage at Roman Catholic Church.”
The maid said that the couple left and she continued cleaning the house, before they returned around 12:00 hours.
“…the madam [Ms Masumba] said ‘your uncle [referring to the deceased] is going for a party.
Then uncle left around 14:00 hours.”
Esther said she continued with chores and later knocked off and went home.
The following day around 08:00 hours, while home in Linda, she received a phone call from Ms Masumba, who asked her to go home in Mt Makulu, which she did.
She said she learnt that Dr Miti had been attacked and was in UTH.
Esther said while at the house, she received a call from Ms Masumba, who asked her to pick an “item” in the corner of the house near the veranda.
“She said I should hold it nicely then take it to the toilets for tenants and hide it and put leaves so that no-one should see it…”…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
Trial continues on January 27, 2026.
