A 20-YEAR-OLD man of Lusaka’s Matero Township yesterday appeared before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for beating up his own mother after she failed to give him money he demanded for to buy a pair of trousers.

The 20-year-old has, however, gone home after he reconciled with his mother, with a warning from the Court that he will be jailed if he commits another offence.

In this matter, Sydney Phiri, was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the laws of Zambia.

He was alleged to have assaulted his mother, Brenda Phiri, this year, thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.

When he appeared before Magistrate Nsunge Chanda for plea, Thursday, Sydney said he understood the charge after it was read to him and took a plea of guilty.

At this point, Magistrate Chanda asked the accused why he assaulted his own mother.

In response, Sydney said he wanted her to give him money to buy a pair of trousers.

“Then I started fighting with my mother,” Sydney said.

Asked who won the battle, Sydney, who was mistaken for a juvenile because he is small in stature, said it was him.

Further asked whether his mother gave him the money to buy a pair of trousers after beating her, the accused said no before adding: “She called some people who apprehended me and took me to the nearest police station.”

Sydney also told the Court that it was his first time to beat up his mother, before adding that he was not happy with what he did.

Magistrate Chanda wondered why the accused could beat up his own mother who carried him for nine months and had been providing for him.

“You beat your own mother who carried you for nine months? Nine months she was pregnant, she raised you, has been feeding you? Then you start beating her? You need to go to prison for five years! That’s the law for assault, especially that you beat your mother,” she said.

Magistrate Chanda also asked the complainant what she wanted to tell the court, before she (Magistrate Chanda) could proceed.

In response, the complainant said she had forgiven him as his mother

“He is my son, your honour, I have forgiven him,” said Chanda.

But Magistrate Chanda added:

“If you can beat your own mother, what about your neighbour?”

In response, Sydney said he had learnt a lesson and would never do it again.

Magistrate Chanda in-turn told him to start behaving himself and have respect for elders, warning that he would be sent to jail the next time he commits another offence.

“You should have respect. You can’t touch your mother! And this should be the last time, don’t fight! I don’t close cases; I will just reconcile and leave it hanging so that if he commits another crime, you should come back. Bring him here so that I take him inside for five years. Because your mother has forgiven you, go and behave,” she said.

“The parties have been reconciled and proceedings have been stayed.”

After leaving the accused’s dock, Sydney knelt down before his mother before asking for forgiveness.

His mother in-turn told him that she had already forgiven him, but warned him that:

“If you continue with your behaviour, I will bring you back!”