Defence Minister faces jail over unpaid army shooting damages

Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri faces a potential six-month jail sentence after failing to pay US$25,000 in court-ordered compensation to a victim of an army shooting. The court's ultimatum is a rare judicial pushback against a senior security official, testing the executive's control over the judiciary. Muchinguri's defiance risks a direct confrontation between the justice system and the ruling party's top brass, amplifying political friction.