Kambwili insulted Lungu - witness
A WITNESS has testified that he found remarks uttered by National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili directed at President Lungu to be insulting.
Superintendent Stephen Nkowani, 46, of Zambia Police headquarters said yesterday that according to his findings, the sentiments were insulting and demeaning and should not be used on a human being especially the President.
Mr. Nkowani said this before Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale in a case Kambwili has been charged with one count of defamation of the President for allegedly referring to Mr. Lungu as a dog.
He said on August 17, 2019 while on duty, he took over the docket of defamation of the President and the complainant was New Congress Party (NCP) Secretary General Daniel Nyati over the utterances which went viral on social media.
He said Mr. Nyati showed him the said video which he had downloaded on his phone.
Mr. Nkowani said he demanded that the video be downloaded to subject it to further investigations and he submitted it to police forensic headquarters for examination and results indicated that it was not altered.
He said another man Alan Mkandawire went to lodge another complaint relating to an article published in the Daily Nation newspaper regarding Kambwili’s utterances.
Mr. Nkowani said he interviewed Zambia Daily Mail Deputy Managing Director Chapadongo Lungu who said that Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo and then Political Advisor to the President Kaizer Zulu were appointed by the President Edgar Lungu to their respective positions.
He said the Head of State used to live in Chawama when he was minister of Justice.
He said after gathering all the information he summoned Kambwili and interviewed him before charging him with defamation of the President. Mr. Nkowani said under warn and caution the NDC leader said he understood the charge but denied the same.
Meanwhile, Kambwili’s lawyer Keith Mweemba has applied to the court to refer the matter to the High Court for determination of Constitutional issues.
Mr. Mweemba said the application is based on Article 28 (2) of the Constitution Cap 1 of the Laws of Zambia.