Court turns down Munir ‘s appeal to drop one case

By Hannock Kasama

The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has denied an application by Lumezi Member of Parliament Munir Zulu to have one of his seditious cases dropped.

Magistrate Chibwili ruled that Mr. Zulu has not demonstrated that his utterances were part of the proceedings of the National Assembly.

The seditious case pertains to his statements last year in which he claimed that President Hakainde Hichilema would dissolve the National Assembly and call for early elections.

Raising a preliminary issue, Mr. Zulu argued that the Magistrates’ Court had no jurisdiction to hear his case because the words were uttered within the precincts of the National Assembly.

However, Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili dismissed Mr. Zulu’s argument on the grounds that he had not shown that his utterances were part of the proceedings of the National Assembly.

Magistrate Chibwili has adjourned the matter to February 5, 2024, for trial.

It is alleged that on September 6, 2023, Mr. Zulu announced on his Facebook page that President Hichilema would dissolve Parliament on Friday, September 8, 2023, and call for early elections.