July 2001 Africa News Headlines

Wednesday, July 25, 2001 - Web posted at 14:58:57 GMT

Zambia opposition party leader charged for defaming Chiluba

LUSAKA - The secretary general of Zambia's main opposition party, Edith Nawakwi, has been charged with defaming President Frederick Chiluba, her lawyers and the police said yesterday.

Nawakwi, a former cabinet minister under Chiluba, took herself to the police after she received a summons last week from the force's criminal investigation unit.

Her lawyer, Mutembo Nchito, said police had charged Nawakwi and that she had signed a statement.

He added: "They said she defamed the president when she accused Chiluba of being a thief at a political rally."

Under Zambian law, if Nawakwi is found guilty of defaming the president, she faces up to three years in prison.

Police spokesman Lemmy Kajoba confirmed that Nawakwi reported herself to the police late Monday, when they took the statement from her, though investigations into the matter continue.

"I still stand by my words. I am among lawmakers who are still pushing for the impeachment of the president. All the charges levelled against him are criminal," Nawakwi told AFP.

More than a third of Zambian lawmakers have signed an impeachment petition in parliament, accusing Chiluba of various crimes including tapping telephone conversations of citizens.

"I am not the only one who is saying the president has committed criminal offences. But why is the police only following me? Nawakwi asked.

Last week, Nawakwi defied the police summons, saying that the order was vague, but the lawyers advised her to report herself to the police head office where she was formally charged.

She had served as labour minister under Chiluba before she was sacked in May, along with 21 other senior officials who later formed the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD). - Nampa-Sapa-AFP

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