Chiengi MP, Katuta, tells court she mistook photojournalist for ‘political cadre’ in alleged spitting incident

Chiengi Member of Parliament (MP), Given Katuta, has denied spitting on a Times of Zambia photojournalist, telling the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that she mistook him for a political cadre and merely questioned why he was taking her pictures.

Katuta, 56, who is also a farmer and Reverend, is facing one count of threatening violence after she allegedly spat on photojournalist Henry Chunza during a parliamentary sitting on June 14, 2023. She has pleaded not guilty.

Testifying before Magistrate Idah Phiri, Katuta narrated that on the day in question she was ejected from Parliament after protesting against what she described as a “tribal and regional” ministerial statement delivered by Infrastructure Minister Charles Milupi.

The statement followed a question of urgent public importance raised by then Petauke Central MP, Emmanuel Jay Banda, and addressed the poor state of roads in North-Western Province.

Read more: Chienge lawmaker, Katuta, to face trial in case involving threat to photojournalist

Katuta said she strongly disagreed with Milupi’s remarks that priority for infrastructure development would be given to provinces “neglected” by the previous administration, namely Southern, Western and North-Western.

“I found his statement to be discriminatory, and I rose on a point of order. Other MPs also stood up, but because of my sharp voice, I was asked to leave the House,” she explained.

Katuta said that as she was leaving, she noticed a man about 15 metres away taking pictures while laughing at her.

“I thought he was a cadre because no press is allowed in that area. I asked him why he was taking my pictures, but he just laughed. I even asked a security guard to stop him,” she testified.

The lawmaker maintained that she never spat on anyone, stressing that her physical condition made it difficult for her even to walk quickly.

“At what point could I have spat on him? He was downstairs, and I was on the staircase. There was no spitting. To me, he did not look like a journalist at all because of how he was dressed,” she said.

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