Former lawmaker Mabonga granted K50,000 bail pending appeal over seditious remarks

Former Mfuwe Member of Parliament Maureen Mabonga has been granted K50,000 cash bail pending her appeal against an eight-month sentence for seditious practices.

The Lusaka Magistrate’s Court ordered Mabonga to provide two working sureties employed in the public service, each bonded at K20,000 in their own recognizance.

She was also directed to surrender her passport to the court.

Mabonga was convicted last month by Senior Resident Magistrate Trevor Kasanda and sentenced to eight months’ simple imprisonment, in addition to a K1,400 fine, for issuing inflammatory statements with the potential to incite unrest.

In his judgement, Magistrate Kasanda emphasised the importance of responsible speech, especially by lawmakers, stating that inflammatory language could lead to societal destabilisation.

He said elected officials ought to promote unity and engage in constructive discourse.

The charge is from remarks Mabonga made during a press briefing held between May 25 and May 28, 2024, in Lusaka, where she addressed the alleged abduction of former Petauke Central MP Emmanuel Banda,now a fugitive.

The event, attended by Patriotic Front members, opposition lawmakers, political figures, and the media, saw Mabonga make statements the court found to be inciteful and potentially divisive along tribal lines. She was quoted as saying:

“You will not finish the Bembas. I can assure you. You will not finish the Easterners. I can assure you… If it is a fight that you are looking for, we can fight.”

The court found her guilty under Section 57(1)(b), read with Section 60(1)(2) of the Penal Code, which prohibits seditious practices that may incite violence or promote hostility among communities.

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