By 
A Lusaka businessman accused of circulating a false social media post alleging an affair involving Hakainde Hichilema has told the court he never published the material and would not have used a small WhatsApp group if he intended to damage anyone’s reputation.
Opening his defence before Idah Phiri, Joseph Chishimba, 47, said he did not post or share a screenshot claiming that State House aide, Chipo Mwanawasa had been impregnated by the President. He argued that forensic examinations of his devices found nothing linking him to the alleged publication.
Chishimba is charged with publication of information contrary to Section 54 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021, an offence related to claims that he distributed a screenshot alleging improper conduct involving the Head of State.
Responding to questions from his lawyer, Kelvin Fube, he denied intending to harass or cause emotional distress to Ms Mwanawasa.
Read more: Chishimba trial stalls as defence seeks more time
He emphasised that he runs large online platforms with significant reach, including a Facebook page, Grassroot Media Zambia, with over 110,000 followers; another page under his own name with more than 210,000 followers; and a TikTok account with over 116,000 followers.
By contrast, he said the “Zambian Politics” WhatsApp group — where the State alleged the post was shared — had only 771 members and was insignificant in size.“If I wanted to build or destroy Chipo Mwanawasa, I would have shared where I have a large following,” he told the court.
Chishimba said he fully cooperated with investigators by handing over his phone and passwords.
“They checked all my Facebook pages where I am an administrator and the WhatsApp platform where they claim I shared. They did not find anything,” he said.
Earlier, investigating officer Peter Mwale told the court that Ms Mwanawasa lodged a complaint after a false statement circulated alleging she was pregnant with the President’s child, saying she was distressed and concerned for her safety.
But Chishimba argued that he was arrested before Ms Mwanawasa formally reported the matter on October 30, 2024, following a family meeting. He also denied knowing anything about the WhatsApp group or sharing any screenshot.
“I don’t know that WhatsApp group. I don’t know whether my number is in that group. I never shared any screenshot,” he said.
He further dismissed testimony from witness Victor Kapungwe, who claimed Chishimba had shared the post, saying the witness was “not my friend” and had misled the court.
Addressing claims that a South African-registered number called a witness instructing him to delete a post, Chishimba suggested the call may have been linked to someone else who had posted similar content.
He added that he could have been added to a WhatsApp group without his knowledge, saying:
“I have many platforms and messages. If I have not opened something, I cannot know what is there.”
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