Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Ms. Dora Siliya has told the court that she was shocked to learn that she was a subject of serious allegations of human and sex trafficking which were broadcast on Social-media by a Chellah Tukuta after she was alerted about his Videos and Facebook postings.
Ms. Siliya said this in her testimony in the case where Photographer Chella Tukuta, whom she had no knowledge of, is accused of making criminal and derogatory remarks posted on social media against her, Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General(ZRA), Kingsley Chanda, Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Charles Sipanje and Former Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Mr. Amos Chanda.
“We accept that things will be said in our area of work, especially as politicians, and in the past, I’ve paid a blind eye” she testified. However this is different because I’ am being accused of selling human beings,” Ms. Siliya said in her testimony.
I may be single, divorced with some failed relationships, but that doesn’t make me a high-level prostitute who sells girls to high profile men.” she said.
“One can accuse or criticize a person in their course of duty but to accuse me of selling humans and calling me the highest of high prostitutes is disgraceful, demeaning and an insult, ” she said before adding that the videos went viral on social media and people close to her as friends and associates across the world, calling her about the allegations made by Tukuta.
“To have my colleagues across the globe call and ask me about these allegations, left me with no option but to take this course of action,” she said while denying any involvement in the allegations calling them malicious and criminal.
“I don’t sell humans, I don’t sell sex for favours. I am human and not infallible and I make mistakes but the allegations were shocking. I may be single, divorced with some failed relationships, but that doesn’t make me a high-level prostitute who sells girls to high profile men.” she said.
Ms Siliya went on to say that although she is a Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and promotes Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press, the law, however, doesn’t support hate speech, libel and other abuse of expression and the abuse of the media.
“Being Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services responsible for media, freedom of the press, I have no doubt or hesitation in making a clear distinction between accusing someone of a crime and freedom of expression”.
She said over the years she has been a victim of hostile criticism but has never bothered to take anyone to court.
“And this is why over the years, many have said a lot about me but it did not border on being a crime, but to be accused of selling human beings, this was a serious crime”. she said.
Ms. Siliya took the time to give the Court her career path to where she is today. According to her, she graduated from Kabulonga Girls Secondary School as the best student and proceeded to the University of Zambia (UNZA). In her third year, she gained acceptance to study for her Masters at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. The national broadcaster, ZNBC, employed her while she was a student at the University, and at the age of 29 years, she was the youngest controller at ZNBC. Ms. Siliya also said that she worked for the European Union and created a good network of friends at home and internationally and also served as a diplomat and created a great network of friends internationally. Ms. Siliya further said that she also served in various portfolios as Cabinet Minister, as Minister of Commerce, Minister of Transport and Communications, Minister of Education, Minister of Energy, Minister of Agriculture, and now Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson.
On serving the people, Ms. Siliya said she been a member of parliament since 2006, and since 2015, she has been doing philanthropy work through her foundation called “Show You Care”. She is also an advocate of women issues, especially young women with a bias to fighting sexual and gender-based violence and abuse. She is also a patron for “My Home Town- Zambian Chapter,” a business network involving Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Argentina, USA, and the UK, adding that she has committed to the cause to uplift young women through education and business and her business, Mano Restaurant, has organized high tea networking sessions and as a platform for Women in Businesses which has had international guests from the region.
It is for this reason that she felt strongly that the utterances by Mr. Tukuta were injurious and damaging to her, accusing her of selling human beings for sex and selling herself for sex.
MamA Dora please stay strong.you will be fine. The law will fairly deal with that small boy chellah. Disrespecting a parent leads to curses. The boy is deranged and needs help.
We thank the ministry of education for doing everything possible in helping our children
I had had diarrhoea in my life but nothing like this. Who ever is trying to kill me you won’t manage
kaisa mwaiche twakulikita pantu umona kwati ngatwaya ku tayashipola ninshi twalaba na talanta twakwata ukufuma kwa mununga. Kabiye ukayeumfwa lulya ulwimbo ati: “Ubwanga bwakwa Chisanga mutima wapungwa” ni bashikulu bandi baimbile lulya ulwimbo.
Uleke ukubwatabwata pali tayashipola otherwise we will send you more shiki
@KZ, that is disgusting man, we have abena Dora in the room and you come talking about your diarrhea??
Dora just added salt to insults….
What about the Zambians sold to slavery in Arab countries in the name of job creation? When Many African and Asian countries have banned the recruitment of domestic workers for countries in the Middle East who subscribe to the “kafala” system. Young Zambian women and men are being sent to work as nannies, maids and drivers in those countries where they are sexually abused and treated as slaves on arrival
What about the Zambians sold to slavery in Arab countries in the name of job creation? When Many African and Asian countries have banned the recruitment of domestic workers for countries in the Middle East who apply to the “kafala” system. Young Zambian women and men are being sent to work as nannies, maids and drivers in those countries where they are s e x u a l l y abused and treated as slaves on arrival and their passports taken away from them by their slave masters ’employers’
Chellah nao alipena. You just dont create things from your head and start speaking through a loudspeaker. Bupuba
Thanks for your testimony in court, I think the guy who accused you is not fair. Lets just do fair politics and not name calling. I always want to ask madam if an opportunity arises if we can we change ZNBC name to PFBC because the station just broadcasts PF activities but I can never demonise her on any given day.
PFBC? OK ImpemfuBC kuti yabafye bwino. They are as bad as cockroaches ba DeadNBC
Chella is in trouble.
The court must use this chella as example for the falsehoods on social media. It will serve as a reminder to the one behind this watchdog because that watchdog is really a sick fool. He needs caging.
Nostra I believe I was poisoned
“The Kaizar Zulu school of political science” coming soon. REMODELING THE PRIVATE SECTOR AMID THE NOVEL COVID-19. Just letting my haters knows in advance so that they don’t get heart attack when the school is open. Kaizar z
“The Kaizar Zulu school of political science” coming soon. REMODELING THE PRIVATE SECTOR AMID THE NOVEL COVID-19. Just letting my haters knows in advance so that they don’t get heart attack when the school is open. Kaizar z. Hard work pays off
“The Kaizar Zulu school of political science” coming soon. REMODELING THE PRIVATE SECTOR AMID THE NOVEL COVID-19. Just letting my haters knows in advance so that they don’t get heart attack when the school is open. Kaizar z. Hard work pays off. Soon I will open kaizar times online website
Well, well, the defendant is in trouble.
@ Dora, Your testimony was indeed heart melting. Chella must pay for his recklessness. This will make him know better next time. You just don’t wake up and start accusing people maliciously and hope to get away with it, times have changed; people sue nowadays. Be careful next time!!
This should never have been a criminal matter involving the Police. All those things Dora is stating are things she would have been saying after suing Chellah in his private capacity. This is a civil case. The toothless Law Development Commission has allowed archaic laws to persist by not making robust recommendations for their abolishment to Parliament – laws that are now used by scared men and women in a corrupt regime to silence perceived threats.
KZ…did you also drink the Putin tea?
I wish Tukuta goes to jail to serve as a lesson to liars!!
If Dora can cry today, did she apologise to many insults she did to late Sata?
Why has Tayali not been treated like Tukuta because he has behaved the same ?Dora had to use the whole of police command and resources to handle a private matter between her and Tukuta .Where is fairness in the way the the PF police handles things ?
Tukuta is a small fish that is why
It has been caught.Big fish can
Yap all rubbish but get away with
It.Tukuta don’t follow big Fish in
Insults.Apologise otherwise you
Are in problem.
This habit by some nondescript men to call ladies whom they’ve never slept with by some names must come to an end forthwith, and Chellah Tukuta will make a good example
Who raised the middle finger to one politician?
Lekeni bakakake ka Chela. He’s a shameless and pathetic upnd cadre whose lies will land him straight in prison. S.t.u.p!d colonised cadre even westernise his name??? Balakukaka, kolwe iwe!!
Is he not MMD?
So is Dola siliti saying she is a low profile prostitute?
Wait for cross examination
For those that know the story ,what Dora Siliya hasnt told the nation is that she was in the school of natural sciences and failed ,then moved humanities at a time when no one could be allowed back after failing at the same university .
Zambians seem to think libel against anyone is a right. I hope Chellah has evidence for his claim and I can’t wait for his defence if at all the courts finds himself with a case to answer at the end of prosecution presenting it’s evidence.
Otherwise, if convicted only UPND can come and serve him if they won.
I feel sorry for this boy but let justice prevail.
If chellah have enough evidence will be acquicted.
And lets respect one another. Too bad for both of you.