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Patriotic Front (PF) Information and Publicity Secretary, Raphael Nakacinda, has told the Lusaka magistrate court that he never defamed President Hakainde Hichilema but was only defending Zambian democracy and the judiciary.
Nakacinda in his defense told Lusaka magistrate, Irene Wishimanga, that what he uttered at the Lusaka High court grounds on December 13, 2021 was to defend the nation’s democracy and also to protect the integrity of the judiciary from any attempts to either manipulate, not only in the judiciary but judges because the constitution of the nation lies with the judiciary.
Nakacinda, aged 43, of farm number 1794, Kafue district was testifying in a matter he is charged of defaming President Hichilema contrary to section 69 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In his defense, he denied the allegations saying he only received information from reliable sources that Hichilema was meeting judges.
“I was merely executing my duties as an opposition leader to provide checks and balances because the information that came to me clearly indicated that the president through his aids was to interfere with court proceedings,” he said.
He submitted that his intensions was to provide checks and balances and to defend democracy and the judiciary.
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“I never defamed President Hichilema, I was defending democracy and that the judges should summon their conscious, clearly communicating that any attempts to compromise the judiciary the despension of justice will be on hold,” he said.
He further testified that he received information, not once but several times by sources from the ruling government that the President was courting judges.
“I only came out to defend our democracy and not to defame the President, of which I did not, contrary to the way Muvi TV reported, Crown TV captured a correct context of what I was communicating and reported that in defense of democracy, as chairman I had expressed myself on the High court ground to defend democracy,” he said.
He further in his defense said, the party had reliable information from state house political advisor, Levy Ngoma that he had information that the speaker had been talking to judges.
“I was only conveying information that had been received, and defending my country’s democracy,” he submitted.
Nakacinda is being represented by senior counsel Makebi Zulu, Jonas Zimba and Nkula Botha all from the Makebi Zulu and advocates.
It is alleged that Nakacinda on December 13, 2021 in Lusaka, with intent to bring the name of Mr Hichilema into hatred, ridicule and contempt, did cause to be published defamatory matter by word of mouth, where he addressed people at the High Court of Zambia, which was also broadcasted by Muvi television that ” His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema had begun to summon Judges at his private residence , intimidating and coercing them to frustrate PF legal battles.”
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