State not aware of Nakacinda’s libel case

By LUCY PHIRI

THE State says it was not aware of the matter in which Patriotic Front (PF) member of the Central Committee in charge of information and publicity Raphael Nakacinda is charged with defamation of the President contrary to section 69 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Nakacinda yesterday appeared before Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Dominic Makalicha for possible plea but when the case was called public prosecutor Abraham Ngozo told the court that Nakacinda’s name and case did not appear on yesterday’s cause list.

Mr. Ngozo added that the State did not have Nakacinda’s record and his indictment was not ready before court.

Magistrate Makalicha then told the State that the date for plea will be communicated to the parties in due course.

Nakacinda was arrested last week for allegedly claiming that President Hakainde Hichilema had been summoning judges to his community house in the night to intimidate them over the case of PF MPs who were expelled from the House after their seats were nullified.