By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA
CHISHIMBA Kambwili says he not surprised by his acquittal in a racial remarks case as he knew from the beginning that he was innocent.
Mr Kambwili was speaking after Lusaka Principal Resident Magistrate Jennipher Bwalya acquitted NDC him in a case he was charged with one count of expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for persons because of race. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
It was alleged that Mr Kambwili on February 19, last year, expressed racial remarks against Rajesh Kumar Verma, an Indian national.
The State had called two witnesses to aid its case.
However, when the matter came up for ruling on the submissions on no case to answer, magistrate Bwalya found Kambwili with no case to answer.
She said it was not for the court to put the NDC leader on his defence for the sake of putting him on his defence.
“It appears to me and I am satisfied that the prosecution has not sufficiently made out a case against the accused person to require him to be put on his defence. I therefore find the accused person Chishimba Kambwili with no case to answer and I dismiss the charge and acquit him forthwith pursuant to section 206 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” she ruled.
Reacting to his acquittal, Mr Kambwili said he had already forgiven the people that maliciously wanted to see him behind bars for a case he did not commit.
“ We all knew from the beginning that I did not commit an offence but people were malicious. They were just trying to keep me in the confines of the Court so that I cannot go out to campaign, I cannot organise my party or find money for my children. Surely to waste my time from February last year to here in a case where even the complaint could not come to give evidence,” he said.
He however showered praises on Magistrate Bwalya saying it was gratifying to note that there were still many principled magistrates .
“Today’s judgement is a landmark in Zambia and for my family that even if you are in the opposition, the magistrate can look at the case and follow the law. This is the way it should be,” he said.
Chishimba Kambwili hails acquittal
