ABOUT THE MURDER OF CHILE ONE
In 2010, Richard Chileshe Mbulu, popularly known as Chile One, married Annie Monta. According to Chile One’s brother, Stanslaus Mukuka Mbulu, at the time Chile One married Monta, he already had two wives, namely Helen and Zaninge Ndovi, who later left following his marriage to Monta, leaving Monta as his only wife.
Sometime in 2021, Chile One met Mwogha Nanguku, also known as Momo, and the two began dating. Soon after their relationship started, Monta began hearing rumours that her husband had a girlfriend. She confronted Chile One about the rumours, but he reacted angrily. Over time, the couple frequently fought and quarrelled about his affair with Momo, although these disputes generally ended without any major incident.
However, on the night of 29 April 2022, while Chile One was taking a shower, Momo called his phone. Monta noticed the phone ringing and saw that the number was saved under the name “Wife”, which shocked her, as she wondered who was saved under that name.
When Chile One came out of the bathroom, Monta informed him that someone saved as “Wife” was calling him. At first, he remained silent. When Monta repeated her concern, he told her that it was none of her business. He then pushed her and began shouting, saying that she should not ask him such questions
He rudely confirmed that it was Momo whose number he had saved as “Wife.” He further stated that he was a man and could have any woman or girlfriend he desired, and that Monta should not interfere in his affairs. The argument eventually subsided, and Chile One went to bed.
However, while he was asleep, Monta picked up a Taurus pistol, climbed onto the bed, stood over him, and fired the gun at him. The bullet injured his mesentery, ascending colon, and kidney.
Monta then sent two text messages to Momo. The first read, “You will never know peace for robbing my children of their father. Your generation to come will never know peace but suffering. Trust me, even in the next decade or so, I will get my revenge.” and the second stated, “I have dealt with him, I have shot him.”
Chile One was rushed to Progress Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Monta was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of murder. In her defence, she raised several arguments, including self defence, provocation, accident, mistake, and misadventure.
She claimed that she feared Chile One would kill or seriously harm her, as he had been aggressive, abusive, and threatening towards her. She also argued that Chile One had insulted her and her family and had humiliated her by openly admitting his affair with Momo which amounted to provocation. Additionally, she argued that the shooting was accidental, stating that the gun discharged unintentionally while she was attempting to remove the magazine.
The High Court rejected all of Monta’s defences and convicted her. The Court held, among other things, that Monta was not in any immediate danger of an unlawful attack that would justify shooting Chile One.
It further held that the use of a firearm in the manner she did was disproportionate to any alleged provocation, particularly since Chile One had stopped quarrelling and had gone to bed at the time of the shooting.
However, the Court found that there were extenuating circumstances, noting that Chile One had been violent and abusive towards Monta prior to the incident and that his long standing affair with Momo had caused serious emotional strain in the marriage. Consequently, Monta was sentenced to twenty (20) years’ simple imprisonment.
Case Citation: The People v Monta (HK/52/2022) [2025] ZMHC 231 (4 April 2025)
*Article by : Counsel George Nkhuwa.