MAN FINED K3,500 0VER FIREWORKS INJURIES
Written by Millennium on September 30, 2019
DIANA NSOFWA writes
@SunZambian
A LUSAKA man has been ordered to pay K3, 500 by the Boma Local Court after his son put a firework in the eye of his friend’s son.
Patrick Banda, 40, of Libala Waterworks sued his friend Moses Mwanza, 42, of the same compound for compensation.
The two were appearing before magistrate Contilda Kamono.
Banda told the court that Mwanza’s son injured his son with fireworks on New Year’s Eve and he had never visited the injured boy.
“Mwanza and I are friends and at 19.00hrs on New Year’s Eve my son came with a group of boys saying Mwanza’s son put a firework in his eyes, I did not have money to take my son to the hospital and in the morning Mwanza’s wife came to see him. I later took the boy to UTH and was admitted for a week and his wife was the only one that visited,
“When he was discharged I sent my daughter to go and call Mwanza and when he came I asked if he knew what happened and he said he did,” Banda said
Mwanza wanted me to call the person that bought the fireworks but the remained at logger-heads that day.
“Since that day he has never even visited my son. We have been re admitted twice but he hasn’t even helped out in anyway. I got him a callout and I even told the police that I wanted a K5, 000 because that is what I have spent from January to date,” said Banda”.
In defence Mwanza told the court that he could only help out with a K500.
“When Banda called me I did go to his place and I even saw the child and I told him that I would help out with whatever was needed but he said that he just wanted a K5, 000 and we failed to reach an agreement, I later started hearing rumors that he was going to get a court summon which he did,” Mwanza said
Mwanza said the police asked Banda to produce evidence of what he had spent but the receipts he produced for medicines only amounted to K100.
“The police asked me to be buying the medicines but Banda said he just wanted money. He said he spent a lot on food and drinks while his son was in the hospital. He said he would bring the matter to court but I told him I can only manage a K500 because I don’t work,” said Mwanza”.
The court ordered Mwanza to compensate Banda with K3, 500 because it was a genuine compensation.
“Looking at the evidence given K5, 000 is too much but the damages are there and when your friend has a problem you should be there for him,” said the court”.
