Leslie Mbula sues Sean Tembo for insulting HH
FORMER Secretary to Cabinet Leslie Mbula, has sued opposition party leader Sean Tembo over his alleged insulting remarks against President Hakainde Hichilema.
Dr Mbula contends that the disparaging and dehumanising remarks by Mr Tembo against elected officials who include the head of State were unconstitutional because they do not promote Zambian national values, human dignity, patriotism and national unity.
He has therefore moved the Constitutional Court to render its interpretation on whether the disparaging innuendos and insulting words published by Mr Tembo, Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader against the President are contrary to Articles 8(a) and (b), 20 and 43 (1)(a) and 43(2)(d) of the Constitution of Zambia.
He has cited the Attorney General and Mr Tembo as first and second respondents.
In an affidavit in support of originating summons filed by his lawyers L.J. Michaels Legal Practitioners, Dr Mbula stated that it was a well-known fact that President Hichilema was affectionately referred to as “Bally”, a pesudo name created during the 2021 general elections.
He stated that on September 27, 2022, Mr Tembo posted on his Facebook page which stated verbatim, “If the Cornhill guy is not arrested, we shall start calling Bally “Imbwa yamu State House.”
He said that on September 29, 2022, the opposition leader posted “”Mailo Bally ali ku mwezi. Expect a 50 percent to 35 percent increment in fuel prices as VAT and Exercise Duty is reinstated.”
Mr Tembo is on March 4, 2023 alleged to have written disparaging remarks saying “Ati anyamuka kuyenda ku Qatar. Ayo ma commitment to travel, there’s usually a side-chick involved. Amake Bally must get worried.”
He allegedly also posted “if the Police do not arrest those insult-unleashing LGBTQ protestors It means Bally is also gay.”
Dr Mbula contends that unrelenting disparaging remarks and fighting words do not enhance the exposition of ideas in public debate because they decay the values of human dignity, national unity and patriotism thus rendering them unconditional.