The State has closed its case in a matter where former UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba is alleged to have issued a statement threatening to go for President Edgar Lungu’s throat.

And Lusaka magistrate Nthandose Chabala has reserved ruling on a case to answer to May 28, this year.

Meanwhile, an arresting officer has narrated to the Court the event’s that led to GBM’s arrest.

In this matter, GBM was arrested on March 2, 2016 for allegedly issuing a statement in which he threatened to go for President Lungu’s throat.

When the matter came up, Wednesday, magistrate Chabala refused to adjourn the matter as the State had taken over a year to call the arresting officer to the stand to testify.

And after a ten minutes break, the State called the officer to the stand.

Webster Moonga, deputy Chief Inspector at Lusaka Central Police told the court that on March 3, 2016, while he was on duty, a docket was opened at the station in which GBM was alleged to have proposed violence against the President at the UPND secretariat, the previous day.

The witness told the court that GBM allegedly proposed violence by issuing a statement that was proposing to cause death or injury to President Lungu saying ‘now I’m going for Lungu’s throat’.

Moonga added that the statement was issued on Hot FM.

He said after he interviewed the editor at HOT FM, he was given a CD but added that he had failed to come with the disc to court because it was with the exhibit officer who was unwell.

“Acting on the matter, my fellow officer and I went to the radio station where I was issued with a disc which had the exact quote as I have said it.

While at the station, I tried to interview one of the editors Richard Phiri who said one of radio station’s journalist, Logic Lukwanda is the one who went to cover the gathering at the UPND secretariat where GBM was saying the words,” he said.

And Moonga said after a docket was opened, he summoned GBM for interviews and later charged him with the offence of proposing violence.

Moonga said under warn and caution, GBM denied the charge and was later detained in police custody.

When he was asked in cross examination led by defense lawyers Keith Mweemba and Gilbert Phiri if he knew which ‘Edgar Lungu’ GBM was referring too, the witness said no and agreed to the fact that there were a lot of Edgar Lungu’s in the country.

He also denied that GBM said he would go for President Edgar Lungu’s throat but instead just ‘Edgar Lungu’s’ throat.

And after the State closed its case, the defence submitted that the accused must be acquitted as the State had not established a prima facie case nor had they provided any material on which the accused can be placed on his defence.

The matter has since been adjourned to May 28, 2019 for ruling on whether or not GBM has a case to answer.