FDD president, Nawakwi’s trial halted as court hears she is terminally ill

The trial of Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president, Edith Nawakwi, on seditious practices charges was halted on Tuesday following reports that she is terminally ill.

Nawakwi, 64, had pleaded not guilty to the charges under Section 57 (1) (b) and Section 60 (1) (e) and (f) of the Penal Code Act, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Despite being found with a case to answer in November 2024 and preparing to call 75 witnesses in her defense, she was absent when the case came up before Senior Magistrate Irene Wishimanga.

Her surety, Mkushi South MP Davies Chisopa, informed the court that the opposition leader remained terminally ill and was at home.

The matter has been adjourned to February 13, 19, 20, and 21.

Nawakwi is accused of making seditious statements between May 25 and May 28, 2024, in Lusaka, urging citizens to demand accountability from President Hakainde Hichilema over the alleged abduction of former Petauke Central MP Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda, now a fugitive.

In her remarks, Nawakwi allegedly stated:

“I want to call upon every citizen of this Republic, every Zambian, every person of goodwill, to actually call Hakainde to account on the abduction of Jay Jay Banda… We are not going to live in a country like that of Idi Amin. We are not going to live in a country like that which we’ve left behind. When you woke up one night, you find my brother Wezi is murdered… You can’t continue bemoaning everything and getting yourself involved in the disappearance of Zambians.”

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