Zambia-based Nigerian, lover charged with manslaughter

A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Nathaniel Barthram, and his girlfriend, Maria Zaloumis, have been arraigned in Zambia alongside three others over the death of a 22-year-old man, Enoch Kasengele.

According to the Lusaka Times, the case, which was initially filed as murder, has been reduced to manslaughter and transferred to the Zambian High Court for trial.

Other suspects in the case include Daniel Chiluwa, Fortune Mwitangati, and Gift Daka. They were accused of committing the offence at Onani Farm in Kabwe on August 17, 2025.

Barthram, said to be a Nigerian national living at Tuzini Farm, and Zaloumis, a farmer from Wonani Farm, were reportedly lovers. The victim, Kasengele, was a resident of Kabwe-Lusaka Road before his alleged killing.

The suspects first appeared before the Kabwe Magistrate’s Court in September, where they were charged with murder under Section 200, Chapter 87 of Zambia’s laws and remanded at the Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility.

However, when the case came up again on Monday, State Advocate Joseph Zimba informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had downgraded the charge to manslaughter.

Following the development, the defence team applied for bail, arguing that manslaughter is a bailable offence and that all accused persons were ready to comply with conditions.

Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso granted bail of K20,000 each, with two traceable civil servant sureties per accused, and ordered Barthram to surrender his Nigerian passport.

The five suspects are expected to appear before the High Court for trial after completing bail procedures.

The case adds to the growing list of Nigerians facing legal troubles abroad. In February, a Nigerian, Adiyako Masaliyo, was reportedly beaten to death in India after a dispute with a local man over an alleged drug-related issue.