The Lusaka Magistrate Court has found freelance journalist Chanda Chimba III guilty of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime and unlawful printing and publication.
This is in connection with his role in the production an airing of the controversial ‘Stand Up for Zambia’ documentary series that targeted the then opposition PF leader Michael Sata in the run-up to the 2011 elections.
However, Chimba’s co-accused former Information Minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha and former Information Permanent Secretary Sam Phiri have been acquitted.
Chimba was charged with 2 counts of unlawful printing and publication Contrary to Section 5 (1)(2) of chapter 161 of the Laws of Zambia, and Possession of Property suspected of being proceeds of a crime Contrary to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No 19 of 2010.
It was alleged that Chimba was in possession of a total sum of K611, 440,433.12, suspected to be proceeds of crime, which he used to pay for his private media and printing services to ZNBC, Muvi television and the Zambia Daily Mail, respectively.
Magistrate Obbister Musukwa convicted Chimba andand ordered that he be remanded in custody pending sentencing.
His co-accused Shikapwasha and Phiri were facing 2 counts of Abuse of Authority of Office Contrary to Section 99(1) of the Penal Code CAP 87 of the laws of Zambia.
The charge on Shikapwasha was that being a person employed in the public service as Minster in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting services arbitrarily and in disregard of defamation laws and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) editorial policy did direct board and management to air the ‘Stand up for Zambia’ documentaries an act prejudicial to the rights and interest of Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation a public body.
Shikapwasha arbitrarily and in disregard to Professional Legal Advice not to broadcast “Stand up for Zambia” committed the Government to pay all liabilities and legal fees emanating from the broadcast of the said program an act prejudicial to the rights and interest of ZNBC and the Government of Zambia.
However, Magistrate Musukwa acquitted the two on grounds that the prosecution failed to prove that the two issued directives to have the program aired.