Metro

Zambian govt lambasts Bishop over call for US sanctions against President Hichilema

Published

9 months ago

March 15, 2024

The Zambian government has lambasted popular cleric, Bishop Emeritus Telesphore Mpundu, over his petition to the United States to impose sanctions on President Hakainde Hichilema and seven top government officials over alleged acts undermining democratic rights in the country.

Mpundu, who is the Chairperson of a civil society group, Our Civic Duty Association (OCIDA), had, on Wednesday, petitioned the US government, seeking financial sanctions, visa restrictions and travel bans against Hichilema and the top government functionaries over various infractions including violations of democratic rights, rights to public assembly, free speech, freedom of association and the right to a speedy trial.

Apart from President Hichilema, the group had listed Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister, Jack Mwiimbu, Inspector General of Police, Graphel Musamba, Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, and Chief Justice Mumba Malila.

Others in the black list of the CSO include the Director of Public Prosecutions, Gilbert Phiri and Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis.

But while reacting to the petition, Chief Government Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, described the Bishop as an agent of division who was out to cause disaffection against the government.

Mweetwa who expressed government’s concerns over the petition during the weekly government-media engagement in Lusaka on Thursday, said the “increasing appetite by certain segments of society to try and damage the reputation of the new dawn administration” would not be tolerated.

He noted his dismay that at a time when Zambia’s democracy was starting to take root, certain individuals had assigned themselves role of merchants of misinformation.

“Government is constrained to comment further on the purported letter that Bishop Telesphore Mpundu allegedly wrote to the American Embassy, indicating that key government officials ought to be sanctioned,” Mweetwa said.

He however stated that government remained confident that citizens appreciated the democratic credentials the country had posted in the last two years.

Mweetwa further assured that government would continue embracing and honoring the opinions of (
OCIDA and other civil society organizations in the governance of the country.

He however, lamented that government finds it challenging and unsettling that “Mpundu, a man of God, who ought to serve as a beacon of love and harmony, had instead served as a model for political animosity and a source of misinformation and division.”

“Even if the letter that was written by OCiDA was a genuine product of consensus, which it is not, it fails to meet the minimum requirements for an individual to trigger international involvement in internal matters,” Mweetwa noted.

He therefore appealed to opposition political parties and civil society organisations not to attempt to damage the nation’s democratic credentials and image.

“President Hakainde Hichilema remains steadfast to serving the citizens while adhering to the rule of law.

“On the cyberspace, government is not undertaking any maneuvers to regulate and legislate social media or its utilisation to the point that anyone who wants to publish content on social media would be held accountable for breaking such a supposed legislation.

“Assertions that government intends to regulate social media at individual level on social media is gross misinformation to the nation,” Mweetwa said.

He also assured that there was no maneuvering on the part of the government to curtail the freedoms of speech and expression that are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.

Click to comment

Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.

Metro

Nigerian activist remanded in prison for threatening President’s son

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Nigerian court has ordered a female activist, Olamide Thomas, to be remanded in prison custody for allegedly issuing a death threat to President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday delivered the ruling after Olamide was arraigned by the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, before Justice Emeka Nwite on a three-count charge.

The police team of lawyers led by A.A. Egwu told the court that Olamide was arrested on allegations bordering on harassing and threatening Seyi Tinubu, IGP Egbetokun and the country’s Police force spokesman, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, in a viral social media post back in October.

The police prosecutors told Justice Nwite that the activist had made a live video posted on Facebook in October, where she allegedly made threatening remarks cursing the President’s son, Egbetokun ahd Adejobi.

According to the police, she had live-streamed the video on the fourth year anniversary of the Lekki toll-gate massacre of Nigerian youths during the #EndSARS protest of 2020 where she said she and other protesters were brutalised by police officers during the memorial procession.

In the video, Thomas had reportedly accused police officers of harassment, claiming that they had been bullying and threatening her. She was also said to have rained curses on Tinubu and his family, Egbetokun and Adejobi, expressing deep grievances, invoking divine powers and issuing severe condemnations and predicting tragedy against them.

The police added that in the video, she stated that Seyi Tinubu would die this year, and misfortune and calamity would befall the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Seyi Tinubu.

Reading out the charges, the police said that in count one, Olamide was alleged to have, “knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in the form of video recording through computer system or network on her social media platforms wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language.”

“In the video, she stated that Mr Seyi Tinubu would die this year, and misfortune and calamity had befallen the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Seyi Tinubu.

“The communication placed Seyi in fear of death, violence or bodily harm. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

“In count two, the defendant intentionally transmitted communication in the form of video recording wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Egbetokun.

“The communication placed Egbetokun in fear of death violence or bodily harm. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

“In count three, Olamide intentionally transmitted or cause the transmission of communication in the form of video recording wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language, stating that the children of Adejobi would all die before his eyes.

“She was quoted to have also said that he (Adejobi) will bury all his children in a single day, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi. The communication placed Adejobi in fear of death of his loved ones.”

After the counts were read to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty to the charge while her defence lawyer, T J. Aondo, SAN, sought to move an oral application on his client’s behalf but the request was turned down.

Justice Nwite therefore directed Aondo to file a formal bail application and adjourned the matter until December 30 for commencement of trial.

He consequently ordered the activist to be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending the hearing of her bail application.