All people’s Congress President Nason Msoni says the incarceration of Rainbow Newspaper Chief Editor Derrick Sinjela for 18 months was rather too harsh a decision to be accepted as a deterrent punishment.
Mr. Msoni said this is also true for any other would be future offenders who will find themselves in a similar circumstance.
And Mr. Msoni thinks the steep punishment mated out on Mr. Sinjela represents the extent of the elevated levels of political intolerance in the country against a vibrant free press.
He said the punishment slapped on the veteran journalist rather appears to take the form and veil of vengeance and retribution in every sense and expressed concern about his welfare particularly under the abhorrent and horrific conditions obtaining in Zambian Correctional Facilities.
Mr. Msoni said the recent reported health scare incident involving Mr. Sinjela requiring him to receive emergency treatment explains his current predicament and vulnerability whilst he remains in incarceration.
He said Mr. Sinjela deserves a reprieve at the earliest opportunity considering his current extenuating circumstances.
Mr. Msoni said a Presidential pardon in the circumstance could well serve the purpose for the marooned veteran journalist languishing in an extremely unsanitary environment.
On 20th December 2018, the Supreme Court jailed Mr. Sinjela to 18 months imprisonment for contempt of court following his comments on the judgment in the case between Stanbic Bank Zambia and Savenda Management Services Limited.
You are a joker and an id*iot without shame. If you don’t understand Zambian law you are probably not fit to aspire for the position of Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
Trying hard to connect politics with court’s ruling.
Exactly Oval, these people don’t even understand how governance works. Truly opposition is at its lowest in our history.
He is right.
Thanks
BB2014,2016
Kudos ni Chipuba. Period
Msoni you will be the next victim, are you a judge? You want the judges to do what you want. You seem to know everything and i’m afraid ba Msoni shortly you will join Sinjela. Why can’t you keep mouth shut? You want to be heard by who?
“All people’s Congress President Nason Msoni says the incarceration of Rainbow Newspaper Chief Editor Derrick Sinjela for 18 months was rather too harsh a decision to be accepted as a deterrent punishment”.In other words you agree with the conviction but disagree with the punishment .Well the punishment is stipulated in the Zambian penal code so nothing wrong with it.
@Nsoni you’re wrong. As much as it’s stipulated in the penal code Zambian judges are free to do whatever they wish.
Let’s take the case Owas Mwape when he was convicted of Uttering false documents, he was only given 6 months in prison. Now, if we check the penal code it says he’s supposed to face imprisonment of not less than 3 years (it falls under General punishment of forgery and Uttering of false documents – since he forged and uttered a document).
We know there is lot bias when it comes to dishing punishment by Zambian Judges.
BTW. Read the penal code under 116 : Contempt of Court
@ Dokowe …”As much as it’s stipulated in the penal code Zambian judges are free to do whatever they wish.” It ends there so stop contradicting yourself dude.
@Nsoni, this part, Well the punishment is stipulated in the Zambian penal code so nothing wrong with it, is what I don’t agree with, you made this statement as grounds for sentencing but shouldn’t since Judges are free to do whatever they so wish.
You can’t this one thing and agree with my statement.
I sometimes wish robots will take up some of these jobs. Human beings are failing each other.
Zambian judges know that we have lost respect for them because they are very compromised. They are always pro ruling party. Jist check their records from 1964. So they have decided if they can’t regain the respect they will instill fear in us. It’s shameful to be a judge in Zambia
msoni panyo nsoni
Dictatorship at play the judiciary is captured by the ruling party, it is not free fare and independent as is supposed to be in a normal functioning country……
THATS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A COUNTRY IS RUN BY DICTATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!