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Opposition Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) president, Sean Tembo, failed to take plea in a matter he is facing two counts of using insulting language against Zambia’s Republican President, Hakainde Hichilema.
This was after defence lawyer, Norman Siwila of Mulungushi Chambers contended that the indictment did not provide clear information for the accused to take plea, further arguing the indictment was bad duplicity.
Siwila stated that if the state was not ready to prosecute the matter they should make necessary application and revisit it when they were ready to proceed.
“This is not the first time this matter is coming before the court, it’s the third and the accused hasn’t taken plea. This is wasting courts valuable time and inconveniencing the accused and the counsel.
“If the state is not ready to prosecute this matter let them make necessary application and revisit this matter when they are ready to proceed. Justice delayed is Justice denied and my accused person is innocent until proven otherwise,” Siwila said.
In response, state prosecutor, Abraham Nghozo, applied for more time to attend to the defense concerns.
It was alleged that Tembo on August 27, 2023 in Lusaka used insulting language to which he said, “Bally apa akangiwa kuipa. But mu 2026 ngati bantu bafuna kuvotela chipuba chinangu, its fine, SET can wait for 2031.”
The said words were referred to Hichilema, in a manner likely to provoke the said person, to break the public peace or to commit an offence.
Magistrate Davies Chibwili adjourned the matter to February 21, 2024 for response from the state.
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