UPND south chief’s case adjourned

THE Livingstone Magistrate’s Court has adjourned to November 23, 2017 a case in which United Party for National Development (UPND) Livingstone spokesperson Neto Halwabala has been charged with an offence of seditious practices.

Chief Resident Magistrate Willie Sinyangwe adjourned the matter after both the defence and State agreed.

Mr Sinyangwe extended the bail of Halwabala to the said date for commencement of trial.

Earlier, defence counsel Frederick Chuunga told the court that the lead defence counsel John Kapepe of MAK Partners was in Kalomo attending to another criminal matter.

“Consequently the defence is not ready to commence trial today and we are asking for an adjournment,” Mr Chuunga told the court.

In response, deputy chief State advocate Nkumbiza Mumba said the State had no objection since it was the first application for adjournment.

Ms Mumba said legal representation was a constitutional right and hence the State had no objection to the application.

Halwabala, 40, of house number ME 199 Maramba has been charged with seditious practices contrary to section 57(1) (b) of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Neto Halwabala, on the date unknown but between February 23, 2017 and February 24, 2017 at Livingstone did utter seditious words in which he did say, “Zambia was no longer a safe country to live in because president Lungu was masquerading as Republican President.

"Lungu is a danger to our peace and national stability because he wants to destroy the democracy this country is built upon…No amount of intimidation from him will change the fact that he is not wanted by the Zambian people”.