A 24-YEAR-OLD woman of Lusaka’s Kanyama Compound has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her brother-in-law, Million Mbewe.

This is a matter in which Hilda Chikoko is charged with murder, contrary to section 200 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Chikoko is alleged to have stabbed her sister’s husband after a dispute using a kitchen knife.

It is alleged that the dispute occurred after Mbewe found Chikoko with a boyfriend outside the house and felt jealous as the two were alleged to have been having an affair.

When the matter came up for plea, Monday, before Judge Mwaka Mikalile, Chikoko pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

The matter was then adjourned to a later date for trial.

Meanwhile, an officer in charge at Lusaka Central correctional facility named congestion as the major challenge the facilities in Lusaka Province were facing.

Giving a report on the state of prisons in Lusaka during the opening of the criminal court session before Judge Mikalile, Senior superintendent Teddy Silwamba told the court that the situation was generally calm, without incidences.

He, however, noted that the issue of overcrowding was a major concern.

Silwamba told the court that as of 06:00 hours on Monday, Lusaka Central male facility had 1,089; Lusaka remand had 760; Mwembeshi farm correctional facility had 427; Mwembeshi maximum correctional facility had 768; Chainama East hospital facility had 152; while Lusaka central female facility had 101 inmates.