Scribe awaits Supreme sentence Savenda contempt case

THE Supreme Court has convicted Rainbow Newspaper editor-in-chief Derrick Sinjela on one count of contempt of court relating to his comments on the Savenda vs. Stanbic case. In this matter, Sinjela, published or caused to be published an article titled Zambian Supreme Court verdict in the Savenda vs. Stanbic Bank is ‘questionable’ says COMESA, SADC journalist. Sinjela pleaded guilty and apologised. But when the matter came up for sentencing nine judges of the Supreme Court headed by Deputy Chief Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa convicted Sinjela on his own admission of guilt. Mr. Justice Mwanamwambwa asked Sinjela to say something before he could be sentenced. Sinjela however, pleaded with the court to exercise leniency in sentencing him as he had learnt his lesson. “I know the gravity of my case and I have learnt my lesson. I pray that you be lenient,” Sinjela said. But Justice Mwanamwambwa told him to give reasons why the court should exercise leniency on him. “When the case was going on, you used to publish one-sided stories in favour of Savenda. You went to the extent of sending us free copies and even stuck posters and banners on trees. Can you give reasons why we should pity you?” he said. He questioned whether the articles were indeed written by Sinjela and whether he was a qualified journalist. “We have suspicions that those publications were done by someone else. Where are you trained? How long have you been practicing your journalism?” Justice Mwanamwambwa asked. Sinjela said the articles were written by him and that he had been practicing journalism since 1999. He said he was trained at NormaJean College. At that point, Justice Mwanamwambwa adjourned the matter to November 28, 2018 for sentencing.

When the case was going on, you used to publish one-sided stories in favour of Savenda. You went to the extent of sending us free copies and even stuck posters and banners on trees.” — Justice Mwanamwambwa.