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The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Consortium on Governance has called for equal application of the law amid rising concerns over the use of criminal defamation charges against government critics.
Consortium Chairperson, Isaac Mwanza, on Tuesday cited the recent imprisonment of blogger Elias Musyani and the sentencing of Lumezi Member of Parliament Munir Zulu as evidence of selective enforcement of archaic laws aimed at silencing dissent.
Mwanza questioned why similar action had not been taken against Patriotic Front (PF) faction leader, Robert Chabinga, a vocal supporter of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), over his recent derogatory remarks about former President Edgar Lungu and members of the diplomatic community.
“If the law were applied fairly, Chabinga’s statements would qualify under Section 71 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes insults directed at foreign dignitaries,” Mwanza said in a statement.
He warned that shielding political allies while prosecuting opponents undermined public confidence in the justice system.
The Consortium also renewed calls for the repeal of criminal defamation laws, arguing that defamation should be handled as a civil matter rather than resulting in imprisonment.
Mwanza further condemned Chabinga’s comments, warning they risked damaging Zambia’s diplomatic relations, and urged public officials to act with decorum and integrity.
“The Consortium will continue to demand accountability and equal justice under the law, and reject the politicization of legal processes,” he said.
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