Friday, March 29, 2024

Chilufya Tayali Acquitted of Rape Charges, says it’s a Huge Relief

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Chilufya Tayali talks to Journalist after he was  acquited
Chilufya Tayali talks to Journalist after he was acquitted

Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali has been acquitted of rape by the Lusaka Magistrate Court.
And Mr Tayali has vowed to take on all corrupt officials in President Edgar Lungu’s administration including former President Rupiah Banda.

Magistrate William Banda delivered judgment Friday morning and stated that the state had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Tayali had raped Ruth.

He said there was overwhelming evidence before the court that Ruth had consensual sex with Mr. Tayali.

Magistrate Banda ruled that the state failed to prove that there was any struggle before the sexual encounter as they were no physical marks on the bodies of the two.

He added that the medical report also did not report of any physical injuries on Ruth’s body.

Magistrate Banda said Ruth only reported the case to the police to save her relationship with her ex-fiancé, Joshua Muleya.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tayali told Journalists shortly after being acquitted that he felt relieved and vowed that the outcome has given him more resolve to expose the ills of society.

‘It gives me so much relief especially in my work as an activist. I have had people who have dismissed based on this case, much more, I have had serious disappoint especially with the state, each time I raised issues instead of them answering to my issues, they were dwelling on this case,’ Mr Tayali said.

He added, ‘I’m very very disappointed especially with the people at State House like Amos Chanda, instead of answering to the issues I was raising, they went on rampaging , ranting over a case which was subjudice. It made me wonder, now this is not just about me, it is about the respect that this government has for the judiciary.

Mr Tayali said, ‘If government officials and the executive will be commenting on cases at will without any consideration, how much pressure are they putting on the judiciary?’

‘I think this victory if I could call it victory or this acquittal sends a message to the executive that if people are raising questions about their governance, let them not be quick to fix them, they were hoping they were going to fix me using this case.’

He said, ‘This man (Magistrate Banda) has shown the executive who have been campaigning, am rejuvenated now.

All the corrupt people now including RB, am coming. I have no rape case now.’

Mr. Tayali was facing one count of rape for having unlawful carnal knowledge with Ruth Zulu on 16th July 2012 without her consent.

Chilufya Tayali is congratulated by YALI Governance  Adviser Isaac Mwanza after he was acquited
Chilufya Tayali is congratulated by YALI Governance Adviser Isaac Mwanza after he was acquitted

And ZANGO Youth Consortium chairperson Kayimbo Katengo has described Tayali as a disgrace to the youths in the country.

“It is with a heavy heart that I being a Board founding Member of the Zambian Voice inform that nation today that I am deeply disappointed with the conduct of our Executive Director, Chilufya Tayali. It was on noble ideals that we set up the Zambian Voice. Our aim was win the trust of all members of society in delivering justice; human rights and a corrupt free Zambia. Over the last few years of its existence, the Zambian Voice has made a lot of progress. Sadly, Mr Tayali has unilaterally decided to turn the organisation into a one man arena,” he said.

In a statement made available to Lusaka Times this morning, Mr Katengo added;

The revelations that he alleges to expose concerning Former President Rupiah Banda and the Former Chief Justices seating on the Mutembo Nchito Tribunal are not only unfortunate but make Mr Tayali a disgrace to the youth. We have championed for youth empowerment through personal mentorship development. It is shameful for Mr Tayali to abuse that trust which emissaries of our society placed in him as an emerging civil society leader in Zambia. Today, without a thread of shame, Mr Tayali has the audacity to speak out against these individuals.

There is no prognosis of justice in Mr Tayali’s utterances. Actually, Mr Tayali is not a paragon of integrity.

Following Mr Tayali’s unfortunate conduct, he has disadvantaged millions of young people across the country from receiving personal mentorship leadership development from prominent figures of our society because now they will be concerned about the safety of the information they share with their apprentices. His outrageous outbursts must be ignored by well meaning Zambians as the after shock of a dying horse.

It is public knowledge that Mr Tayali campaigned for the PF and President Edgar Lungu despite clear guidelines that the Zambian Voice shall not engage in politics. It is regrettable that Mr Tayali can be championing a crusade against President Edgar Lungu.

Tayali must show respect for judicial officers. Former Chief Justices honestly embraced him. It just shows how ungrateful and dishonest some youth can be. I am deeply saddened that Tayali has sold his Soul to the highest bidder. We championed the DBZ loan saga with a passion, today it is not a factor. We demanded for integrity from public leaders, I wonder where Mr Tayali’s integrity stands in all his recent public utterances.

RESPECT FOR THE PRESIDENT

I take this opportunity to kindly ask my good comrade Tayali to tone down in his speech and be civil when discussing the President. His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu deserves to be respected by all citizens and residents in Zambia. The bitterness coming from the Zambian Voice is not inspiring for many ordinary Zambians in championing good governance.

MY RESIGNATION FROM ZAMBIAN VOICE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mr Tayali’s conduct has compromised the very foundation on which the Zambian Voice thrived. It was citizens from all walks of life that we interacted with that gave Zambian Voice the information on so many issues going on in our country. The treacherous conduct of Mr Tayali has robbed the Zambian Voice of the respect it enjoyed in the eyes of ordinary Zambians.

It is on this ground that I officially announce my resignation from the Zambian Voice.

34 COMMENTS

    • 1. CT seemed to have been aware of the case outcome from the way he has been speaking in the last few days.

      2.On whichever side one is on, the due process of the law has been followed to this conclusion, save for right of appeal, if the other party is not satisfied with the verdict.

      3. Threats have been issued to expose public figures for allegedly corrupt practices while in office. Well, it would have been fair to come up with the facts first other than shooting and asking questions later.

      4. The other Director that has resigned publicly from this NGO in sympathy of those accused of corruption, it is his right to do so, but perhaps he should have resigned on “principle” without throwing tantrums and in the process looking like he has already been offered a job in the public…

    • Ba Lusaka times try to be objective in your reporting. Instead of reporting real issues that has the potential either to make or break Zambia such as the constitution, you are busy reporting on Tayali ignoring the demonstration against peace meal enactment of the constitution by UPND and the civil society.

      The protest march was well attended and successful. A message has been sent to PF and ‘s cronies that people want the constitution exactly the way it was drafted and to be enacted via a referendum so one can temper with it.

      I am shocked, PF has allowed the protest march out too much pressure from donor countries to put up a front that its a listening gov

    • So Tayali you are excited by being acquitted of raping a woman and start insulting innocent people who were not even there when you slept with this woman. Do you really think in your brains to even start boasting in that way? Are you married? If you are what has your wife said about it and if you have children, how shameful do you feel to face them? You must be stupid and a big fool. You must keep quiet. Do you realise how Aids is spread? Its through reckless people like you. I hope this Zambia VOICE thing you run can be closed because its giving you advantage of sleeping with a lot of unsuspecting women married or not. SHAME! God will punish you. You must stop indulging good people like Amos Chanda even mentioning the name of our beloved President in your illicit activities. You must PRAY

  1. While basking in his acquittal, this chap should know that in a democracy, the Judiciary is independent, not just because they have acquitted him.

    Furthermore, let him not forget to settle his legal bills.

  2. After Tayali published those messages between the two lovers, it was obvious that it was consentual sex. RB and his cahorts wanted to use the system to silence him. Well lets see what happens now.

  3. He is a disgrace to the youth of this country. He has no morals and no integrity. His voice is being used as a Vuvuzela to hurt other people under the guise of freedom of speech and fighting corruption. You cannot remove sticks in other peoples eyes when you yourself have got logs! Remember God judges our motives not our deeds.

    I wish to advise Mr Tayali that nothing lasts for ever. His day of reckoning shall surely come. Ask Mr Nchinto! It is clear your so called corruption fight is veiled with hidden agends and ulterior motives – to please your masters who have paid you to be a vuvuzela. Shame on you Sir.

  4. Bravo to Tayali. We now want you to expose these rogues so that we know who they really are. This country cannot continue to be ruled by crooks. We want them exposed so that we can kick them out. Edgar Lungu must know that the power lies with the people, the governed who he has already forgotten. He has all of a sudden become so wealthy from nowhere using our money. Zambians must rally together and remove these crooks from government. All of them have become stinking rich to a level where they do not even know where to take the wealth they have stolen. Lungu’s wife is also following the same trend; misusing our money through useless projects that have no future outlook. We will see about this when time comes.

  5. People of Zambia, has it come to this? This man slept with a woman that was involved with someone else – that was wrong and should be highlighted. No one is perfect, but let us use cases like this one to condemn this practice so that our children grow up knowing this is not accepted.

    • This is adultery and with so much adultery in Zambia one wonders whether adultery is a crime in Zambia.

    • @ indigo. I find it shocking that you seem to find fault with Tayali only, where are the morals of this woman, she seems to me like an opportunist. certainly, she knew she was engaged but somehow entertained company she probably should not have been entertaining. she probably is a hule and just needed to find the right person to get something out of. what a shame. Not only should she be ashamed, she should be shamed as well.

  6. so this Zango man, Kayimbo Katengo wants Tayali to protect corrupt people so that they maintain their fake status in society. It is shameful he had to write such a stupid resignation letter. these same corrupt characters he is defending are the ones causing the same youths he is talking about to have no jobs and no dignity. The man needs to grow a pair . . . .

  7. He has been acquitted of rape well and good but the woman he was sleeping with was still someone else’s woman. Surely is this the kind of activist we should be listening to? It is being acquitted of armed robbery because you where not armed when doing the robbery. It still make you a thief.

    • Nkobekela tecupo Iwe! When they bonked each other the girl was only affianced to that Muleya trip whom she ended up not marrying anyway. Let us not confuse the freedoms that adults must have with statutory nonsense visited upon us by the adoption of useless medieval tenets.

    • A single man and a single woman having sex . . . why is that a crime kci? join Islamic state if you want to live under such restrictions. The girl slept with Tayali, dumped the fiance then married someone else then accused Tayali of rape and you think that’s normal?

  8. The acquittal does not say there was no sex. It just says that the sexual act took place with consent.

    This does not dilute the aspect of immorality on the part of Tayali.
    The fiancé can still pursue this case as he had already paid 60% of the lobola.

    The only hope for Tayali is that there is a source of money where people borrow and refuse to pay in the name of DBZ.

    Go to DBZ, borrow the money to pay your lawyers. Your mates, Fred and Nchito borrowed and have refused to pay. They are still free though, and still walking with heads up, calling other people thieves.

    In fact we shall see which Lawyer will represent you. You don’t pay bills.

    Zambia should enact Law for these guys who walk into a bank, borrow money and refuse to pay back. Rape people and turn it into…

  9. Just look at the hypocrisy of this morally corrupt individual. He says ‘I’m very very disappointed especially with the people at State House like Amos Chanda, instead of answering to the issues I was raising, they went on rampaging , ranting over a case which was subjudice.”

    Is it not sub judice to comment on others who have not yet been convicted by the courts of law? He clearly thinks RB is a corrupt individual, when that has not yet been established. He calls others corrupt even before the due course of the law has been concluded.

    • Not that am Tayali’s Supporter or anything, but merely a person who wishes to be educated on the aspects of the law you have raised, herein Subjudice. According to yesterday’s Post article, the guy said, his allegations have nothing to do with Banda’s cases before the courts of law but rather what himself (Tayali) can prove exclusively…in this regard only, i do not see how it is subjudice if not mere “prejudice”. Mr. Banda is thus free to take those very defamatory allegations to be addressed by the courts of law.

  10. There are still outstanding questions. Although the sex was consensual, did Ruth enjoy it?. Where did they have it?
    Where was Ruth’s fiancé at the time?. Where was Tayali’s wife at the time?. Did they use any protection?. If no protection Is Ruth pregnant? and if not why.

    These questions need answers, otherwise we need a tribunal here.

  11. The young man is very courageous. Shame on RB and Frank Bwalya. More headlines now from post news paper

  12. 1. CT seemed to have been aware of the case outcome from the way he has been speaking in the last few days.

    2.On whichever side one is on, the due process of the law has been followed to this conclusion, save for right of appeal, if the other party is not satisfied with the verdict.

    3. Threats have been issued to expose public figures for allegedly corrupt practices while in office. Well, it would have been fair to come up with the facts first other than shooting and asking questions later.

    4. The other Director that has resigned publicly from this NGO in sympathy of those accused of corruption, it is his right to do so, but perhaps he should have resigned on “principle” without throwing tantrums and in the process looking like he has already been offered a job in the public…

  13. Tayali must tell the world that zambian judiciary is truly independent.
    He must thank the zambians for voting for pf because if it was the other party which stripped him naked when he went to attend their meeting, they would have put him behind bars by this time.

  14. The fact that justice has been served, the nature of the case (ubuchende) to be associated with is a disgrace from a youth championing activism. On moral grounds he must step aside from the NGO as he cannot be entrusted with a responsibility. He has no patience even if doing doing the wrong puts in in the spotlight.

  15. Tayali, there is nothing moral about what you did knowing the fact that you knew that RUTH is engaged and you should never try to politicize your stupid actions. A well meaning person like me cannot be represented by such chaps like you lest it happens to my wife, you can never be trusted again by a normal being.

    Una nyopola someones wife, did you ever put yourself in RUTH’s fiance? suppose your wife ( maybe you are not even marriage, you can not keep a family). Perhaps the state needs to buy you a puppy, if it runs away from you then we will all know that you can not look after a lady well except kunyopola, that will be a good indicator.

    last, you owe the people you represent an appology but not me coz you dont represent me.

  16. Which numpties actually fund this useless NGO? Or is it a group of loud dumb @$$es for hire to do your dirty work?

  17. This young man is one of the most useless activists i have ever read about. His boasting having sex with a woman outside wedlock means he has done it with so many women who take cases to him. Even all those people who trust him, on what basis; committing sin? How can an irresponsible man who knows only to rumble claim to be an activist. For who by the way? For the adulterers, rapists, prostitutes or womanizers? This man has made himself the most stupid person on earth. If you have a wife, please go down on your knees and ask GOD that she forgives you. Or maybe you cannot keep a family.

  18. Justice is cardinal in a democracy. I still recall that the same justice system took a different view of Kanene’s case where the consenting girl’s age was not even verified. The case in point is fornication since neither Tayali nor Ruth was married. Ruth only reported the matter to the police to try and prove to the fiancé that she did not willingly betray him. Tayali maintained that Ruth never told him she had another man. How does one condem Tayali here? Yes, moral teaching frowns on fornication but as the Lord challenged the crowd of hypocrites which of you did not go for the fruit before getting married? Leave judgment to God almighty.

  19. It is very difficult to find a fully decent woman. Even the so called decent ones will shock you if you really get to know them. They cheat right under your nose, with straight faces, smiles and showing you love and care, and even cheat with your best friend, brother, garden-boy, driver, work-mate or the church pastor…without showing any remorse… When they turn cruel it is 101%, Gossip 200%, love of money 1000%, secrecy and stabbing in the back 200%, anger 200%. Has anyone observed what the so called decent women do at workshops, seminars, out for studies, or at conventions? Educated or not educated they are just the same…Are those children you have really yours. Did God make a mistake by creating these beauties? It is time churches explained this feminine mystery.

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