By KALOBWE BWALYA
NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Saboi Imboela has been charged and arrested for offence of criminal libel against State House Media Director Clayson Hamasaka.
Over the weekend, Ms Imboela was confined to her house after a legion of police officers surrounded her house in an attempt to forcibly arrest her for an offence she did not know.
However, yesterday, Ms Imboela was arrested and charged for criminal defamation and has since been detained.
But Sean Tembo has charged that the arrest and dentention of Ms Imboela was nothing but political persecution because the offonce over which she has been detained was bailable. Ms Imboela was charged for criminal libel after State House Media Director Clayson Hamasaka reported her to police on allegations that he had been defamed. (To page 3)
And according to a statement by police, it is alleged that Ms Imboela acting together with other unknown persons did publish defamatory remarks against Mr Hamasaka through her Facebook page namely SaboiImboela –SI between 9th and 10th September, 2022.
And in another matter, police have warned and cautioned Ms Imboela 45 of house number 12698 LilayiRoad in Lusaka for the offence of hate speech Contrary to Section 65 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act Number 2 of 2021 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on October 12, 2022 Ms Imboela knowingly and without lawful excuse did use hate speech by way of posting and circulating hate content on Social Media in particular on her face book account.
Ms Imboela is being represented by Makebi Advocates and Fred Jere and Company.
James Tembo her lawyer confirmed the arrest of Ms Imboela in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Tembo disclosed that firstly Ms Imboela was warned and cautioned by the anti-fraud for hate speech contrary to section 65 of the cyber security and crimes act.
Mr Tembo explained that Ms Imboela was later taken to crime one where she had been warned and cautioned, charged and arrested for the offense of criminal libel contrary to section 191 of the penal code.
He said the charge was based on the complaint from State House media director Hamasaka who reported the matter to police. “So she has been arrested and transported at Kabwata police station for formalities and we do not know if she will be confined or she will be detained. However, will keep updating you” said MrTembo.
And Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) president Sean Tembo said this was a clear political witch hunt because the matter was a civil case and not one which involved the police.
He said it was unfortunate that the police had not given clearance to give Ms Imboela a blanket and even warm clothes.
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