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The trial of Francis Kapwepwe, popularly known on TikTok as “Why Me the Lion of the World,” is scheduled to begin on September 4, after he pleaded not guilty to charges of hate speech.
Appearing before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court, Kapwepwe denied three counts, including hate speech and expressing contempt against a group of people based on tribe and place of origin, under the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act and the Penal Code.
The State, represented by prosecutor Mukuma Chipawa, confirmed that consent to prosecute had been granted.
Read more: Social media blogger, Kapwepwe, to face trial for alleged hate speech, court rules
Defence lawyer, Jonas Zimba, immediately applied for bail, arguing that the offences were bailable and that Kapwepwe, who has a fixed residence, was a suitable candidate.
“Kapwepwe remains innocent until proven guilty. He is a proper candidate for bail and is ready to comply with any conditions the court may set,” Zimba submitted, urging the court not to delay the application.
The prosecution, however, requested to respond through a formal affidavit, a move the defence opposed as an attempt to unnecessarily prolong an urgent matter.
“This is an urgent application. The State cannot file an application within an application. They should respond now or hold their peace,” Zimba argued.
After hearing both sides, the court granted the State time to file its affidavit and allowed the defence to respond.
A ruling on the bail application will be delivered on September 4, the same day trial proceedings are set to commence.
The charges against Kapwepwe relate to alleged remarks he made on his TikTok platform in April this year.
Prosecutors claim he incited tribal hatred by suggesting that the President intended to install Chief Mukuni as king of Southern Province and implying that the region should separate from Zambia.
In another count, he is accused of using vulgar and derogatory language targeting people of Southern Province, allegedly calling them “testicles” and “assholes.”
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