News / Africa
Zambia: Journalist charged with sedition, released on bail
12 Jul 2013 at 04:51hrs | Views
Thomas Zyambo, a journalist suspected of having links to an online news service provider, Zambian Watchdog, has been charged with sedition. After spending over 48hrs in police custody, the journalist was released on bail late Thursday, 11 July 2013.
Zyambo was arrested together with another journalist and academic, Clayson Hamasaka, in the early hours of Tuesday, 9 July 2013 and both were put in police confinement. Police, with the aid of a drug enforcement agency raided the pairÂ’s houses separately and confiscated computers and other digital equipment.
Hamasaka was released without charge on Wednesday, 10 July 2013 after spending nearly two days in police custody but has since been ordered to report to police for further questioning. One his lawyers, Gilbert Phiri, confirmed to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) that Hamasaka had been ordered to report at police headquarters Friday morning at 09:00hrs CAT.
At the time of publishing this update, it was not yet clear whether Hamasaka was going to be charged or indeed, spend the rest of the day in police custody.
Offences in respect of seditious practices are found under Sections 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 of the Penal Code.
The definitions of what constitutes seditious practices or intentions are broad and a number of legitimate actions can be interpreted as seditious. It is up to a court of law to determine whether indeed what has been published is seditious or not.
Zambian Watchdog is seen as critical to the ruling party, Patriotic Front (PF), and has come under a series of verbal attacks from party sympathisers, including government officials of late. The website has also reported suspected denial of service attempts in recent weeks.
Zyambo was arrested together with another journalist and academic, Clayson Hamasaka, in the early hours of Tuesday, 9 July 2013 and both were put in police confinement. Police, with the aid of a drug enforcement agency raided the pairÂ’s houses separately and confiscated computers and other digital equipment.
Hamasaka was released without charge on Wednesday, 10 July 2013 after spending nearly two days in police custody but has since been ordered to report to police for further questioning. One his lawyers, Gilbert Phiri, confirmed to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) that Hamasaka had been ordered to report at police headquarters Friday morning at 09:00hrs CAT.
At the time of publishing this update, it was not yet clear whether Hamasaka was going to be charged or indeed, spend the rest of the day in police custody.
Offences in respect of seditious practices are found under Sections 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 of the Penal Code.
The definitions of what constitutes seditious practices or intentions are broad and a number of legitimate actions can be interpreted as seditious. It is up to a court of law to determine whether indeed what has been published is seditious or not.
Zambian Watchdog is seen as critical to the ruling party, Patriotic Front (PF), and has come under a series of verbal attacks from party sympathisers, including government officials of late. The website has also reported suspected denial of service attempts in recent weeks.
Source - MISA
