NAKACINDA SEDITION CASE RULING SET FOR AUGUST 10

 BY CHIKUMBI KATEBE

THE Lusaka Magistrates Court has set August 10 as date for ruling in a case in which Raphael Nakacinda was charged with sedition for accusing the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had dispatched pre-marked ballot papers to areas where by-election were supposed to take place.

Magistrate Mbuyuwana Simvula made the order at the close of the prosecution witnesses ECZ director, Lloyd Katongo testified that he was not sure if Mr Nakacinda received the invitation letter to the Commission hearing which was slated slated for November7, 2024.

Mr Katongo testified that the commission had resolved to report Mr Nakacinda to police after he failed to appear for a hearing called to answer to allegations published in a newspaper tabloid, the Daily Nation Newspaper.

He submitted that it must have been around November 4, 2024 when after reporting for duty at ECZ was made aware of a newspaper article in the Daily Nation Newspaper which attributed the article to Mr Nakacinda that the ruling UPND party had dispatched pre-marked ballot papers to areas earmarked for by-elections. POSH Media, Chamber o By BARNABAS ZULU

POSH Media Chief Executive Officer Suzyo Kilembe says the partnership between the media firm and the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry will create new opportunities for local businesses and accelerate enterprise development across the country.

Speaking during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between POSH Media and the Chamber for the hosting of the Enterprise and Investment Indaba, Mr Kilembe described the agreement as a milestone in the promotion of the country’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“It is an absolute honour and a privilege to stand before you today as we formalise this strategic partnership between POSH Media and the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry through the official signing of this Memorandum of Understanding,” Mr Kilembe said.

He thanked the Chamber for entrusting POSH Media with the responsibility of jointly delivering the Enterprise and Investment Indaba.

“On behalf of the board, management and the entire POSH Media team, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the Chamber for the immense confidence and trust they have placed in us to jointly deliver the Enterprise and Investment Indaba,” he said.

Mr Kilembe said the signing ceremony represented more than a formal agreement but symbolised a shared commitment to empowering local enterprises, particularly SMEs. f Commerce in partnership to empower SMEs

He submitted that as a sensitive matter, which had attracted his attention considering that the country was holding several local government by-elections in Lusangazi, Mkushi and Mwense among other places.

Mr Katonog explained that because of the gravity of the message in the newspaper article, the commission made haste response to the issue and summoned Mr Nakacinda as the source of the story.

He submitted to court that the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Bob Musenge and other commissioners summoned Mr Nakacinda to appear before them on November 7, 2024, and when he failed to appear before the commission they reported the alleged offence to Zambia police.

He further testified that later in the day, the ECZ received a letter from Mr Nakacinda giving reasons why he didn’t appear before the commission.

He explained that after Mr Nakacinda failed to appear as requested, the commission reported to police to investigate the alleged breach with regards to the ECZ Electoral Code of Conduct with regards to defamatory or inflammatory allegations against person or political party.

He further explained that if there was matter that required a person to appear before the commission, the matter was first tabled and a resolution passed for the Chief Electoral Officer to communicate the reasons the person was is required to appear on the date and time, which letter was delivered by the Registry section.

In cross examination, the defence inquired why he ECZ responded to the newspaper article when it was the UPND who were directly mentioned.

They asked Mr Katongo if the he was aware of the charge against Mr Nakacinda to which he was testifying, and he replied that he didn’t know.