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Patriotic Front (PF) faction Secretary General, Raphael Nakacinda, has been fined K2,400 after being convicted of seditious practice over remarks linking President Hakainde Hichilema to a search at former President Edgar Lungu’s residence.
High Court Judge Davis Chibwili, sitting as Chief Resident Magistrate, ordered Nakacinda to pay the fine or serve three months’ simple imprisonment in default.
The case arose from a video recorded in September 2024 and later published on Kanele 97.7 FM’s Facebook page, in which Nakacinda alleged that President Hichilema had directed the Drug Enforcement Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and Zambia Police Service to search Lungu’s Chifwema residence.
Read more: PF faction Secretary General, Nakacinda, to know fate August 10 in sedition case
Nakacinda denied the charge.
The prosecution called eight witnesses, including officers from the Zambia Police cyber forensics, anti-fraud and cybercrimes departments.
Judge Chibwili said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that evidence from the police, DEC and ACC contradicted Nakacinda’s claim that the President had directed the agencies to search Lungu’s residence.
The court further found that Nakacinda’s remarks had the potential to encourage PF cadres to converge at Chifwema to prevent a possible search.
In mitigation, Nakacinda’s lawyers asked the court to impose a non-custodial sentence, describing him as a first offender who was remorseful.
The magistrate instead imposed the K2,400 fine but cautioned politicians against making irresponsible public statements, particularly on social media.
“With the advent of social media, people just wake up from dreaming and post on social media and present what they were dreaming. It is important to make responsible statements to avoid facing the consequences. Courts are there to correct public perception,” Judge Chibwili said.
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