The Lusaka Magistrates Court has today acquitted a 49-year-old man of Lusaka’s Chawama township who was accused of defaming President Edgar Lungu after referring to him as Ch*kala.
Peter Habasimbi, a police reserve officer who was being represented by Keith Mweemba and Shadreck Mbwewe, is alleged to have defamed the President whilst on a minibus from Snow White to Chawama.
Lusaka Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya freed Mr. Habasimbi saying the prosecution’s witnesses gave different accounts of what happened on the day when he was accused of insulting the Head of State.
“I note that there are too many inconsistencies by the witnesses from the state. The arresting officer said something different from what the eye witnesses said. Other witnesses were saying ‘wamene uyu Lungu ndiye wamene alengesa’ and another one said ‘wamene uyu muna votela chik*la ndiye alengesa’. It is difficult for me to establish who is saying the truth so I will resolve the doubt in favour of the accused,” said Magistrate Munyina.
Magistrate Munyina also condemned police for keeping Mr. Habasimbi for 22 days before bringing him to court saying he was over detained.
Facts before the court were that whilst on the bus, Mr. Habasimbi was greeted by the bus driver who asked him why he was not seen in the State House bus anymore to which he responded that he was now based at Chawama police station.
He further alleged that the reason why people were burning buildings after Hakainde Hichilema’s arrest was because of the President.
Among his actual words which are before court are; “Chikala wamene muna votela President alengesa,” words which the state interpreted as…”the Penis you voted for as President is the cause”.
But in his defense, Mr. Habasimbi denied uttering those words and said his arrest was because of a grudge one of the officers had against him.
Mr. Habasimbi told the court that he had arrested a relative to one of the officers who detained him as punishment for doing that.
Yaba! no comment! Police, be professional and stop embarrassing the President
Keith mweemba scores another goal, they don’t call him bebeto for nothing.
People call names when you are stupid and abuse office. PF have failed many Zambians; they should not get angry and let them accept the Names. Yaba. Lungu, Jonathan, Now I know the meaning of ECL,,, Edgar Chxxxx Lungu?? kikikiki
So Judge Sylvia also repeated the word chikkala. She must felt good.
Nostra that is court for you, you need to say it as it is, just like when a juvenile girl is asked to describe what type of bombasa ba kudos or ndanje was putting on that phonification day, she has to describe even the color and vigamba on his bombasa.
In tonga a bole hole is called c hikala, how is that an insult you people.
In English that would be translated as a “PRICK” not a penis.
“Penis” is a very polite word and definitely not insulting as it is the proper name of a mans genital organ.
Prick is derogatory as it insinuates a very small, dirty and useless penis that cannot even perform the function is is supposed to be used for, as in “pin prick” !!!!
Another acquittal, embarrassing for government. Take a chill pill now and learn from your mistakes. Investigate before you bring people before courts of law. Not ‘Tiye, uzakamba kusogolo’ kind of operations!
True and quality justice has been rendered in the matter between the state and brother Habasimbi. Viva brother Keith Mweemba and brother HH. Viva UPND
@Len Joe (Post-doctoral fellow) you are the same people who bring redicule to your HH and UPND! Why do you bring in HH or UPND? And you claim to be a Post doctral fellow like MUSHOTA- next you will be telling us you went to University or Glasgow which is no bigger than University of Lusaka!
I take it that you are familiar with the freedom of expression and speech. That said, who gives you the right to censor the contents of my posts? I do not see any relevance in your responsive approach and verbose. I exercised my freedom of expression. My level of education is relevant to me and those people who benefit. It is not a conveyor-belt for insults nor for derogatory language. I ran my race and I am proud of my quality educational achievements. Live with it or shut up.
Chik -fil-A is chicken chain restaurant.
Do the opposition agree now that our courts operate independently? Such things do not happen where dictators rule. Be Happy you are a Zambian living I. Zambia.
The compromised magistrate is there in Lusaka. He is a full-time PF cadre and his job is at stake
Who says our courts are compromised?
Your mother.
Your step mother not mine.
Bwalya called Sata Chumbu Munshololwa but he was not arrested. Sata called Levy cabbage but he wasn’t arrested. Now someone calls a pe.nis for what it is and PF DPP hangs treason around their neck. What manner of masalamusi is this surely?
Just be happy and celebrate, after all Lungu is god given.
You ka sun god that you worship on the 18th of October ka?
Independent judiciary. That’s good for our democracy.
And you call this as News!
You ka sun god that you worship on the 18th of October ka?
This judge won’t last long in the job with that kind of free thinking.No never ,not with the current govt always inching towards dictatorship.
@Nose demon you are an embarrassment! Hazaluza Hagain!
I didn’t know there was such a thing going on. if its true, how can this man insult the president?
Ba LT be ethical. If you want to hide the insult from kids you can safely do so by doing this Ch****la. What you have done covering only one letter doesn’t conceal the insult. Moreover you cover one letter in the headline and another in the text no consistency so kids can easily make out what you are censoring. Think mwebantu.
Think about what? Ch!£ala is not an insult. It is the same as ichinena. In ichibemba these are normal terms used in everyday communication. If I say “inkombe taikata pa chinena”, what would you think of ?