The Kasama Magistrate court has acquitted a United Party for National Development (UPND) member who was facing one count of defaming the Republican President Edgar Lungu.
This is in a matter in which former PF District Publicity Secretary Jackson Simutenda was accused of insulting the President when PF members went to remove UPND campaign materials from the place he (Simutenda) operates from after the January 20 presidential elections.
It was alleged that on February 16 this year, Simutenda uttered insulting words against the Head of State in the presence of PF Kasama District Chairman Caleb Monta and other two PF members.
This was when the PF members removed campaign posters from the accused person’s business place at Chikumanino market.
However, in the process the trio accused Mr. Simutenda of insulting the current Republican President.
And passing judgment, Magistrate Kelvin Soma said he had found the accused not guilty of the offence charged against him as the three prosecution witnesses gave different versions of the exact words that the accused used to insult the President.
The Kasama Magistrate further said he had found that the prosecution witnesses were being dishonest in their submissions.
Mr. Soma said it was clear that the trio just wanted to pin down the accused after he showed some resistance.
“I have found that the prosecution witnesses have been dishonest and it is clear that the trio just wanted to remove the UPND campaign materials but when the accused resisted they decided to fix him. I therefore find the accused not guilty as charged,” he ruled.
YAH,THATS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS ABOUT TO BE REGIME CHANGE EVERYTHING SEEM NOT TO BE WORKING FOR THE RULING PARTY (PF)LOADSHEDING AND PF ARE SAYING ITS NETURE,YES THATS HOW IT IS WHEN THER E ABOUT TO BE REGIME CHANGE EVEN NATURE WORKS AGAINST YOU.
Alot of Zambians are born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome that’s why the country lags behind on so many levels.
If your parents drink, chances are you are one of those born with underdeveloped brains and now you also drink and having the same kind of kids.
But I thought it’s the job of the local authority or the owners of the adverts to remove them failure to which there are courts of law where such issues can be addressed, but Iam wondering since when did it become the job of pf cadres to remove other people campaign adverts.
PF cadres could have done well to concentrate on removing their party’s posters if they were that eager to see posters come down!
Bravo to brave kasama magistrate for his verdict. May be pf will stop abusing court time with impunity.
Next it will Pilato’s aquital.
This comedy show known as Edgar Chagwa Lungu is just getting more and more ridiculous.
WE NEED JUDGES WHO REASONS AND FAIR TREATMENT AS THIS TO ALL. I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE THE GUN THUGS DURING THE JUST ENDED BY ELECTION SHOOTINGS TO BE ARRESTED.
Typical Cadre mentality. You go to someone’s business to force them to remove campaign signs. When he refuses you lie to get the person arrested for insulting the president. Totally stupid. The man should be let to keep campaign materials as long as he wants on his business. It is none of PF business. This is a clear case of wasted resources on a non issue.
What is there to insult anyway. The magistrate must have noticed this also.
A fair magistrate after all! Not taking the side of PF! PF cadres are ruining this country because they think they are it and own it! Remember what goes up comes down!
Now LT why don’t you make an effort to use photos that have relevance to the article? What doe EL in Malawi have to do with this article? Or use a single photo of EL. Simple! Where you journalists trained?
He is a professional who knows his duties.
This thug caeb monta should be tamed. All this is due to the unreasonable and foolish directive issued by one of their leaders chishimba kambwili to remove opposition campaign billboards while retaining the PF billboards standing.Edgar lungu s billboard are still littered all over the place.bravo to his honour the learned magistrate!
Defamation of the president should be removed from our laws. It is a communist charge. In a democracy a president has to be criticised by those who respect him and those who don’t
But Zambia has a perverted democracy and no freedom of speech, so what do you expect? ??
Jesus got ridiculed,Obama gets sliced daily on many TV shows so who is Lungu to think he’s too special?
It is not Lungu at fault in this case, it is the laws that we have in place that allow for such useless cases to be even brought before the courts. We need updated laws.
@ Matafwali
In addition to be President of the Country, H.E. Lungu is also PF President. Therefore, he do have ultimate responsibility for the actions of PF officials.
Hope that you have understood now that there are also responsibilities which come with benefits of public office