Chienge Member of Parliament Given Katuta has expressed relief after being acquitted of allegations that she threatened violence against Times of Zambia photographer Henry Chunza.
Lusaka magistrate Idah Phiri yesterday set the outspoken lawmaker free, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against her. It was alleged that in 2023, after being denied entry to the National Assembly by the Speaker, Katuta charged at Chunza, ordered him to delete photos he had taken of her, and spat on him.
In her judgment, Magistrate Phiri found that the alleged words and actions did not meet the legal threshold for threatening violence. She noted that no witness, including the third prosecution witness, testified that Katuta threatened to beat, injure, assault, or damage anything belonging to Mr. Chunza.
“The third witness expressly clarified that he did not say the accused threatened to injure or beat Mr. Chunza,” the magistrate stated. “Having said the above, I am inclined to clarify that while Mr. Chunza testified that he felt threatened, that subjective fear… had not convinced non-threatening words into a criminal threat.”
Magistrate Phiri further questioned why the case was brought to court given the weak evidence, stating she experienced “considerable difficulty in appreciating the basis upon which the police, and indeed the prosecution, elected to proceed with this matter in the absence of cogent and credible evidence.”
After the verdict, an emotional Katuta hugged her lawyer, her husband, and supporters. Referring to the recent jailing of two lawmakers for sedition, she admitted she did not expect to be acquitted.
“I don’t have words because I knew that this was just a political push,” Katuta said. When asked if she anticipated the outcome, she replied, “No!… you see the way I’m dressed… I thought I would go straight there (to detention), so I needed something warm… cause I know, when you come into court, you are gone.”
The reverend and politician added that she holds no grudge against Mr. Chunza and is willing to meet him to let bygones be bygones.
If she spat on him, that is a serious crime. The journalist should take her to the cleaners.
A whole MP spitting!?!
In “if”
How did she vote for Bill 7?