President of one of Zambia’s opposition parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Saboi Imboela, has been fined K25,000 after being convicted on two counts of libel against one of President Hakainde Hichilema’s aides, Clayson Hamasaka, who is the State House Communications Specialist.

Zambia Monitor reports that Lusaka Magistrate, Sylvia Munyinya, who delivered the verdict, ruled that the defamatory statements made by Imboela on Facebook and other social media platforms were both unlawful and damaging to Hamasaka’s reputation.

The NDC leader was accused of publishing defamatory remarks on her Facebook page, “SABOI IMBOELA-SI,” on September 9, 2022.

The posts, which reached approximately 170,000 people, accused Hamasaka of misconduct and infidelity.

One post claimed that Hamasaka’s farm was being developed by Chinese interests and accused him of exploiting women seeking employment in the ruling UPND, while another post alleged that Hamasaka’s marriage was on the brink of collapse due to infidelity.

Magistrate Munyinya ruled that the posts were accessible worldwide and capable of lowering Hamasaka’s reputation and found that the statements lacked evidence and were not substantiated by any truth.

The Magistrate emphasized that, as the owner of the Facebook page, Imboela was responsible for the content posted on her platform.

In her defense, Imboela’s lawyer, State Counsel Sakwiba Sikota, requested leniency, pointing to her extensive community service and personal circumstances.

Sikota pleaded that Imboela is a single mother caring for three dependents and her 72-year-old mother who was also involved in charitable work, including running a trust school in Shantumbu and providing support to women in prisons.

Sikota argued that the posts were a retaliatory response to sustained online attacks against Imboela and urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence, citing the overcrowding in Zambia’s prisons.

Magistrate Munyinya acknowledged Imboela’s mitigating factors, including her status as a first-time offender but however maintained that the defamatory posts had caused significant harm.

As a result, the Magistrate sentenced Imboela to pay a K25,000 fine for each count of libel, with the fine being non-cumulative and payable by November 25, 2024.

Failure to pay the fine would result in nine months of simple imprisonment.

A report released by the United States Embassy in Abuja has reveals that Nigeria is currently ranked seventh on the list of countries with international students enrolment in U.S. colleges and universities.

The report which was released on Tuesday, puts international students enrollment this year at a record-breaking 1,126,690, with Nigerian students’ enrolment rising to 20,029 students in 2023/2024.

The report titled, “2024 Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange” indicated a 13.5 percent increase from the previous year, placing Nigeria as Africa’s leading source of international students and 7th globally.

The Open Doors Report is an annual publication of the Institute of International Education (IIE) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

“This milestone aligns with the 75th anniversary of the Open Doors Report, the leading benchmark for international educational exchange in the United States,” the report said.

“Notably, Nigeria with 20,029 students, reinforces its position as the top sending country from Africa and the seventh largest globally.

“Nigerian students bring a wealth of diversity, perspectives, and academic excellence to U.S. universities, enriching the educational experience for all students.

“Nigerian scholars are known for their strong academic backgrounds and commitment to advanced education, with over 55% pursuing graduate-level studies in the United States.

“The growth in Nigerian students choosing to study in the U.S. reflects both the strong U.S. commitment to high-quality education and the growing interest of Nigerian scholars in international academic experiences.

“It also highlights the importance of people-to-people connections that deepen understanding and strengthen bonds between Nigeria and the United States.”