(MISA/IFEX) – On 5 September 2001, Fred M’membe, “The Post” newspaper’s editor-in-chief, reporter Bivan Saluseki and opposition sympathiser Edith Nawakwi appeared in court on a charge of “Defamation of the President”. The case was postponed to 13 and 14 September, following a request by the government that independent Member of Parliament Dipak Patel, also charged […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 5 September 2001, Fred M’membe, “The Post” newspaper’s editor-in-chief, reporter Bivan Saluseki and opposition sympathiser Edith Nawakwi appeared in court on a charge of “Defamation of the President”. The case was postponed to 13 and 14 September, following a request by the government that independent Member of Parliament Dipak Patel, also charged with the same offence, be tried alongside the other defenders.
The accused did not raise any objection, but said they hoped the postponement would not complicate the case.
Background Information
M’membe is alleged to have defamed Zambian President Frederick Chiluba in an editorial titled “A thief for president” published in the 17 August issue of “The Post”, in which he alleged that Chiluba had stolen public funds.
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 authored the story after speaking to Nawakwi.
Patel was quoted in the same newspaper as having alleged that Chiluba stole US$4 million in a maize deal.
All four 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.
