Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:39:14 +0000
…AS STATE SEEKS FOOTAGE OF PLOT TO BLOW UP INSTALLATIONS
By Chintu Malambo
PRIME TV managing director, Gerald Shawa is in hiding after being served with a court order to release a video footage of a plot to blow up government installations.
Mr Shawa was served with a court order by Police at his offices as part of their investigation into acts of sabotage.
According to Daily Nation sources, Mr Shawa sneaked out of the office on the pretext of calling his lawyers and disappeared, leaving police officers waiting at his offices and switched off his phone.
When Police approached the TV station for the footage, Mr Shawa declined and asked the law enforcement officers to follow the law as contained in the Anti-Terrorism Act no. 21 or 2007.
A court order was duly obtained and served on Mr Shawa who eluded police on the pretext that he was calling his lawyers.
Police are investigating activities of some people in Kalomo who planned to damage Government infrastructure among which were the Kalomo Bridge, Kalomo Hospital, some schools within Kalomo and Munali Hills Bridge in Mazabuka.
According to the court order, the State was seeking a video footage on the planned illegal activities alleged to be executed by Sialumamba Amon Mweembe, a resident of Kalomo
In an affidavit in support of ex-parte summons for an order to obtain information, pursuant to section 35 of the Anti-Terrorism Act No. 21 of 2007, Elias Banda, a detective inspector, said the office of the Inspector-General of Police was investigating activities of some people in Southern Province who planned to damage government property.
Mr Banda alleged that between 30th June 2017 and 5th July 2017, unknown people convened and planned to execute illegal activities in Kalomo which were thwarted by the police.
He claimed that prior to the thwarting of the activities by police, Mr Mweemba was covered and interviewed by Mr Kalan Muchima, a journalist of Prime TV.
Mr Banda submitted that Mr Mweemba threatened to carry out acts bordering on security. He claimed that requests for the footage proved futile as the managing director of Prime TV refused on basis of professional reasons.
“The Office of the Inspector-General wrote to the managing director of Prime Television, requesting for the footage but the request was declined on the basis of professional reasons,” he said.
Mr Banda subsequently, indicated that the Office of the Inspector-General was desirous to conclude investigations by revealing the contents of the said video footage.
