By Hannock Kasama
Patriotic Front –PF- faction Secretary General RAPHAEL NAKACINDA has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour for hate speech.
Lusaka Resident Magistrate IDA PHIRI delivered the judgement.
Magistrate PHIRI found Mr. NAKACINDA guilty of expressing hatred, ridicule and contempt against a person based on race, colour, tribe and place of origin.
The offence related to remarks concerning President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’s election as Republican President in 2021.
In her ruling, Magistrate PHIRI said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading the court to convict Mr. NAKACINDA.
However, following mitigation by defence lawyers, Magistrate PHIRI ordered that the six-month sentence would run concurrently with sentences in other matters for which Mr. NAKACINDA has already been convicted.
Magistrate PHIRI said a custodial sentence was imposed to serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders.
She warned that politics driven by hate speech can lead to division and polarisation within the country.
Magistrate PHIRI also expressed concern over the growing tendency by politicians across the political spectrum to engage in hate speech.
