(MISA/IFEX) – The trial of two journalists and two opposition politicians charged with defaming Zambian President Frederick Chiluba has been postponed until 15 October 2001. This request was made by the prosecution because some witnesses were not available. Those charged are Fred M’membe, the editor-in-chief of the privately owned “Post” newspaper, Bivan Saluseki, a reporter […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The trial of two journalists and two opposition politicians charged with defaming Zambian President Frederick Chiluba has been postponed until 15 October 2001. This request was made by the prosecution because some witnesses were not available.
Those charged are Fred M’membe, the editor-in-chief of the privately owned “Post” newspaper, Bivan Saluseki, a reporter at the “Post”, opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) spokesperson Edith Nawakwi and independent member of parliament Dipak Patel.
The four are jointly charged with defaming the president, an offence under Section 69 of the Penal Code. On the first count, M’membe, Saluseki and Nawakwi are alleged to have defamed Chiluba in a story titled “Chiluba is a thief”, published in the 16 July issue of “The Post”. Saluseki wrote the story after speaking to Nawakwi.
On the second count, M’membe and Patel are alleged to have defamed President Chiluba in an article headlined “It’s Chiluba who stole US$4 million”, published in the “Post” on 17 August. Patel was responding to an allegation made by Vice-President Enoch Kavindele a day earlier in the “Post” that Nawakwi, who was the agriculture minister in 1997, should explain what happened to the US$4 million which was earmarked for the purchase of relief food that year.
The court heard testimony from three prosecution witnesses before the trial was adjourned until 15 October. But Nchima Nchito, one of the defence lawyers, protested the request for adjournment, accusing the prosecution of “lacking seriousness and being unprofessional” by prosecuting a matter which police were still investigating.
BACKGROUND:
All four accused are charged under Section 69 of the Zambian Penal Code, which makes it an offence to “publish anything, in any form, deemed as tending to bring the office and person of the president into hatred, ridicule or contempt.” The offence carries a maximum penalty of three years in jail without the option of a fine.
