Two Zambian Journalists, Wilson Pondamali and Clayson Hamasaka are scheduled to re-appear in court within five days of each other, the Media Institute of Southern Africa has learnt.
Pondamali will appear before Kabwe Resident Magistrate, Mary Simpungwe, on Wednesday, 21 August while Hamasaka will make his court appearance on Monday, 26 August before a different magistrate.
The two are suspected of having have links to the Zambian Watchdog, a news website whose access in Zambia has since been blocked by authorities.
The charges both journalists are facing, however, seem to have no direct link to the news website in question.
Pondamali is accused of being in unlawful possession of a municipality book and some military stores.
His 21 August court appearance follows one on Thursday, 15 August which failed to take off as the prosecution was reportedly not ready to commence without instruction from the Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito.
Hamasaka, who is accused of being in possession of obscene material, finds himself in a similar scenario.
He appeared in court on Monday, 12 August but the State appeared not ready to continue, resulting in the failure of the case to proceed.
It is hoped that when the matter resumes on 26 August, the State will be ready.
No information regarding the court appearance of a third journalist in the ‘Watchdog’ saga, Thomas Zyambo, has yet been gathered.
MISA continues to monitor the situation in Zambia.
Is it for bad writing?
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Eeee, bazakambila mu koti. ba zionesa monga nibamene baziba manyonzo pa Zambian watchdog. Bakanyonza babisamila mu internet. Manje lelo bagwiliwa. Choncho, bazafotokoza mwamene mu koti kwa mafumu.
FOOLISH
Pondamali………Quite an interesting guy. For the usual anti-government people, he is a victim. For some of us who know him, he is not. his life has always been TRICKY. I hope these are not the same characters behind ZWDogs.
I would say the same for Hamasaka. He is one of the most retrogressive chaps I have ever known.
Zambia wachdog is now on Facebook page.
Excuse me,
Who is a journalist in Zambia today?
Is it anyone who is owning a PC, modem and who has registered with MISA as their member?
Sad.
You will take away our lives but not our freedom, joy comes in the morning
Fichili fileisa’ watch this space
if they hav a case to answer the court of law will determine it.
Lies do not pay guys.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia
I have said before that this Pondamali is not a threat. He is not a jounalist. He is just an excited political novice who likes attracting attention. The guy has always been UPND and once stood as councilor in Ndola and lost to the late Alex Daka. The way i know him he must be enjoying the all drama as it might help him to get the populality he wants. He is always struggling economically and he is pron to financial scandles whereever he has worked. Those organisations sympathising with him should be very careful as he is likely to strike and con them with money eventually. Pondamali can not walk in the streets of Ndola with his heard up