I am innocent - Kalimanshi

PATRIOTIC Front cadre Innocent Kalimanshi has denied one count of defaming Home Affairs minister Stephen Kampyongo.

Kalimanshi, 40, who is also a businessman of house number 2 Leopards Hill Road in Lusaka, denied the charge before Magistrate Felix Kaoma yesterday.

Kalimanshi was supposed to take plea last Wednesday but he was absent from court as he was reportedly involved in a road traffic accident a few days before.

In this case, particulars of offence are that on November 8, 2020 in Lusaka, Kalimanshi unlawfully published a defamatory matter affecting Mr. Kampyongo in form of a WhatsApp message.

Kalimanshi is alleged to have said that when President Lungu decided to drop one position of PF national youth chairman from Mr. Kampyongo and gave it to Kasama Central member of Parliament Kelvin Sampa, the minister was annoyed and sent him (Kalimanshi) to start saying bad things against Mr. Sampa.

The accused person is also alleged to have said that when he was arrested for assault and was in custody, Mr. Kampyongo instructed the police to deny him bond and that the minister took a sack of sausages to criminal investigations officer a Mr. Musonda.

Kalimanshi is also accused of saying that when he was in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr. Kampyongo sent some unknown people to kill him on unknown dates.

The court has set February 19, 2021 as date for commencement of trial