Doctor jailed for defaming President

THE Mongu Magistrate Court has sentenced Doctor Kwalela Kafunya of Luampa Mission Hospital in Western Province to three years imprisonment for defamation of the President.

Zambia police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lusaka.

Dr. Kafunya has been sentenced to three years imprisonment on three counts of defamation of the President using a fake Facebook account contrary to section 59 Chapter 87.

Dr. Kafunya is also said to have written threats to murder contrary to section 218 chapter 87 and giving false Information to a Public Officer contrary to section 125 cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia. “Facts of the matter are that Dr Kafunya created a fake Facebook account for purposes of bringing the name of the Republican President into ridicule by posting disturbing remarks, insults and digitally altering images of the President with intent to bring his name into disrepute using a facebook account created in the names of another person who is also a medical doctor at the same Hospital.

“Dr Kafunya further sent written threats to Murder to the doctor in whose name the Facebook account was created through text messages while in another count, Dr Kafunya gave False Information to a Public Officer of Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Police Station,” Katongo said.

Katongo noted that the Zambia Police, welcomed the judgment slapped on Dr. Kafunya as it will send a strong warning to all those that were in the habit of abusing social media.

For the offences of defamation of the President and giving false information to a Public Officer, Dr Kafunya was sentenced to two years imprisonment for each count while for written threat to murder; he was sentenced to three years. The sentences will run concurrently meaning that he will serve a period of three years.