Things are getting a little awkward in Zambia
• ‘Paragons of democratic virtue’ failing thee freedom of speech test
Brian Rungano Temba
Barely a year into its reign, Zambia`s United Party for National Development Government has started clamping down on critics.
There has been a rise in the number of people being arrested for asking questions on Hakainde Hichilema`s governance, as realities of the post-honeymoon Zambia start biting.
Most recent is the imprisonment of Danny Kapambwe (28) and Justine Chimpinde (19) of Chienge district in Zambia on counts of defamation of the president Hakainde Hichilema contrary to the draconian section 69 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of Zambian Law.
Resident Magistrate Luckson Mbewe last week sentenced the two men to 24 months of imprisonment with hard labour after the the defendants pleaded guilty to one count of defamation of president Hichilema.
The duo appeared in court on Friday June 24, 2022 after being apprehended by the combined forces of the Zambian Police and Zambia Army Officers based at Chipungu border post.
One George Mulenga Chanda of Kasoma Village in Chienge was the whistle blower who reported the duo to Chienge Police on June 15, 2022 at 2pm after watching a video of the two making insults to Zambian president Hichilema on the social media platform TikTok on June 14, 2022 at 1400hrs.
Detective Inspector Chilembo informed to Chipungu Border post and a search for the duo began.
The accused were apprehended on the same day after they surrendered to Chienge Police.
A cautionary statement was then recorded by the accused to warn others while under police custody.
When they were brought before Resident Magistrate Mbewe Kapambwe and Chimpinde pleaded for lineancy as they had learnt their lesson.
“We are asking for forgiveness and infancy from the court because our families will suffer if we are given custodial sentence. We admit we were stupid and did not know what we were doing,” they pleaded.
Resident Magistrate Mbewe said he acknowledges that the accused were first time offenders and did not waste the time of the court. However the insulting of the preside f or any person is an offence and perpetrators will be punished to caution future offenders.
“I take that the trend of insulting the Head of State with impunity is growing in this country even if it is an ordinary person. The trend of showing insults at an elderly person is not only against our culture but also an offence under our Penal Code,” he said.
When Hichilema got into power, he tried to project himself as an ultrademocrat, but is currently failing the freedom of speech test.
Many other people have faced arrests for disagreeing with Hichilema `s policies.
In February Saliya Laisha was arrested on accusations of defamation.
Laisha is reported to have said President Hikainde Hichilema had sacrificed six Seventh Day Adventist youths who died in the Kariba Dam in January 2022.
Andsen Zulu a driver at Evelyn Hone College was arrested on April 29, 2022 with intent to bring the name of the President into hatred, ridicule or contempt published defamatory matter on his Facebook page alleging “HH is a member of the anti-Christ so we can’t get surprised.”
Patriotic Front (PF) party Chairperson for Information and Publicity Raphael Nakacinda appeared at a tight guarded Court in April over allegations of showing hatred, ridicule or contempt contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) as expeessed worry that Zambia continues to hold onto archaic laws such as criminal defamation and use these to prosecute citizens.
This is goes against the grain of a virtual reality portrayed by the Hichilema administration which considers itself a champion of democracy.
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