Foundation for Democratic Process Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi and Daily Nation Newspaper Proprietor Richard Sakala and his editor Simon Mwanza this morning appeared for mention in the Lusaka Magistrate Court.
This is in a case in which the trio is jointly charged for publication of a false article in the Daily Nation Newspaper dated December 10, 2013 with intent to alarm the nation contrary to section 67(1) of the penal code cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Mr. Chipenzi was picked up on 11th December 2013 and interrogated together with Mr. Sakala in connection to an article alleging that the Zambia Police was undertaking a secret recruitment exercise that is meant to infuse the foreign trained militia into mainstream police service.
In the article, Mr. Chipenzi insinuated that the secret police recruitment exercise was aimed at setting up a militia wing for the PF government under the Zambia Police Service.
Trial in the matter commences on 10th January 2014.
am a long time member of FODEP and it makes sad reading to hear what am hearing of our executive director.It is time as FODEP members it is time to get rid of this man to preserve the integrity of the organization.He has tolling a political line,which is against our objectives as an organization.Am calling all FODEP members to rise and show this yap yap……….. the exit.He is supposed to be organizing district,provincial and constituency offices,which are no longer functional,instead of him talking about militias.
thats your opinion you coward.
Dear Nganga, seasonal greetings!
I would like to see you come to the FODEP offices if truly you are a member of the organisation and which province are from. We need such members. From you inscriptions, it seems you are neither a member nor understands FODEP well. If truly you were a member of FODEP, you could be one only hired for elections monitoring and became convinced that FODEP is for election monitoring like some people that have gone before us. Otherwise thank you so much for your views which i greatly respect. But kindly share with the public FODEP aims and objectives if truly you understand FODEP well. if you don’t have any since you are a former and might have lost all the documentation, check on our facebook page or indeed blog to refresh yourself
I don’t think Sata understands freedom of the press and its role in a democracy. Freedom of speech should be protected by a govt that values democracy. Reporter s should be given the leeway to make mistakes for the sake of building our democracy unless the rulers just got into power to amass personal wealth and glorification
does freedom of the press mean telling lies and instill fear in people i wonder.
fiehinka iwe cadre stombonyani
fishinka iwe cadre stombonyani
I am tempted to agree with John Kolala above, unfortunately what we dealing with is far from a democracy, precisely where the problem lies. Casting a ballot at an election is as far as Sata’s democracy goes, obviously far removed from civil liberties in which the freedom expression is enrichment.In a true democracy, the article being referred to would be regarded as mare speculation and nothing to drag a journalist or its proprietor to court for. Which means it’s now government responsibility to clarify the matter to put the wider nation at easy. But what we are dealing with is savage whose only world revolves around vindictiveness, intimidation and utter confusion. This man should never have been president in the first place. Until he departs the scene, we are in for it.
Our leaders in thiz non governmental organisations shud be careful in a manner they exrcise their freedom of speech o in da name of democracy,if one person alarms the nation wrongly they shud be questioned to give visible evidence to da courts of law,cos lies of dat magnitude can result into very devastating situations,rmbr GENOCIDE In Uganda.