Tonse Alliance Ndola mayoral candidate jailed for threatening to shoot resident

The political landscape on the Copperbelt has been jolted following the conviction and subsequent imprisonment of Tonse Alliance mayoral candidate Jones Kalyati. The Ndola Magistrates' Court sentenced the 49-year-old former mayor to 12 months imprisonment with hard labor after finding him guilty of threatening violence. Presiding Magistrate Brian Simachela delivered the judgment, stating that the prosecution had presented compelling and direct evidence proving that Kalyati pointed a firearm at a resident during a dispute earlier this year. The case stems from an incident on January 24, 2026, when Kalyati confronted Alexander Mwamba, whom he accused of participating in illicit land allocations allegedly linked to ruling party cadres. Witnesses testified that the confrontation quickly escalated, culminating in Kalyati pulling out a firearm and threatening to shoot the victim. During the trial, the defense team, led by lawyer Kenneth Tembo, attempted to counter the charges by introducing photographic evidence and calling four witnesses. However, the court dismissed the photographs after establishing they were captured a day after the alleged offense, rendering them unhelpful to the defense's timeline. In mitigation, defense counsel pleaded for maximum leniency, emphasizing that Kalyati was a first offender, deeply remorseful, and actively positioning himself to contest the upcoming mayoral race on the Resolute Party ticket under the Tonse Alliance banner. Despite these submissions, Magistrate Simachela took a firm stance on the expected decorum of individuals seeking public office. Delivering his remarks, the magistrate admonished that aspirants for civic leadership must conduct themselves with restraint and dignity rather than resorting to street-level intimidation and violence. The ruling has triggered widespread public debate across the Copperbelt and nationwide, particularly given Kalyati's prominent political profile as a former mayor of the industrial city. Le