The case in which Post Newspaper Editor in Chief Fred Mm’embe and reporter Funga Mukosha are facing one count of publication of classified information has been committed to the Lusaka High Court for trial.
This was when the matter came up for mention before Magistrate Humphrey Chitalu this morning.
Magistrate Chitalu told the accused persons that he had received instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions that the matter be committed to the High Court because the subordinate court has no jurisdiction to try the matter.
Particulars of the offence are that the two on 17th April 2015 jointly and whilst acting together published a letter that was written by Anti Corruption Commission Director General Rosewin Wandi to President Edgar Lungu informing him that the ACC wanted to commence investigations on his political adviser Kaizer Zulu.
Musiyeni chabe naimwe. Prosecute him on serious things like the airways matter
Not to Worry – Mmembe will not be found guilty. Just because Rosewin Wandi – wrote on her letter to the president “confidential” or even ” Classified” does not make that document confidential or classified. What makes a document confidential or classified according to law is that which threatens state security. Can you imagine if a president writes a letter to her girl friend and stamps on it “Classified” – should such a letter take someone to jail? The court says NO – because a letter to a girl friend by the president does not qualify as state security.
So bane chill – this is another case that will propel Mmembe’s popularity at international level. He will come out as being persecuted.
Pipo Membe,is an individual but a danger to the security of our nation.I think its high time we caged him.Remember,bad journalism led to the genocide in Rwanda.Just help some pipo understand;Classified infor or doc refers to items or articles meant for a definite or specific individual or section.So,this implies that Membe gained access and published material that he was not privy to.The aspect of content is immaterial.Got it!
At Laliga well said.
The problem is that those against PF want to justify even things that are straight forward. Classified documents contain information meant for specific task and organization or individual. Mmembe knows this very well but his game is always to dare and open up a fight in his mistaken understanding of pres freedom.
The only problem we have is the judiciary is infested with rogue judges who were made high court judges through recommendations of the Mmembe and Winter led cartel. These are in majority and are the ones that will try to defeat this case. But we are watching them and time will come to flush them to were they belong- TOILET