Court proceedings in Nkana MP sedition case stalled after lawyers withdraw

Court proceedings in the sedition case involving Binwell Mpundu stalled Monday after his legal team withdrew, prompting an adjournment to allow him to secure new representation.

Defence lawyers, Leon Lemba and Norman Siwila, informed the court that they could no longer represent Mpundu, citing professional difficulties in executing instructions allegedly given to them.

They subsequently applied to withdraw and requested time for the accused to engage new counsel.

Mpundu told the court he was not in a position to proceed without legal representation and requested an adjournment. The court granted the request, setting April 20, 2026, as the next hearing date.

Mpundu, who is currently out on bond, faces charges of seditious practices under Section 57(1)(b) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 60(1)(i). The allegations relate to statements reportedly published on December 20, 2024, allegedly urging politicians to arm themselves for self-defence amid rising political violence.

Before the adjournment, the court heard testimony from State witness Choongo Bwembelo, who, under cross-examination, acknowledged that the statements attributed to Mpundu referred to defending oneself in situations where police were absent.

“The common denominator is to defend yourselves when attacked in the absence of police,” he said.

Bwembelo admitted that the narrative surrounding the statement involved alleged victims and perpetrators of violence and noted that a similar message attributed to Hakainde Hichilema, then in opposition, also encouraged self-defence under similar circumstances.

The witness further testified that he did not personally witness Mpundu publish the statement and could not directly link him to the Facebook account in question, noting that such platforms may have multiple administrators.

Bwembelo also confirmed that he was not aware of any acts of violence resulting from the statement and that merely owning a firearm is not unlawful.

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