Zambia editor M’membe bailed in childbirth case

LUSAKA – The editor of Zambia’s only private daily newspaper was granted bail of N$30 800 Monday, pending an appeal of his conviction in a case linked to a pornography trial over a photo of childbirth.

Post newspaper editor Fred M’membe was sentenced on Friday to four months in prison at hard labour on contempt of court charges, for running a story about the trial while proceedings were still underway.He was released on bail on Monday, pending an appeal of his conviction, his Lawyer Remmy Mainza told reporters outside the courtroom.’He has been granted a bail of 20 million kwacha (about N$30 800),’ Mainza said.Post news editor Chansa Kabwela was in November cleared of obscenity charges over an unpublished picture of a woman giving birth on a sidewalk outside a hospital.The photograph was taken during a doctors’ strike, and highlighted the poor state of medical care in Zambia.The photo was never published, but Kabwela sent copies of the picture to Vice President George Kunda and women’s groups, sparking outrage in the presidency.President Rupiah Banda personally ordered the prosecution to take up the case against Kabwela, raising concerns about media freedom in Zambia.While Kabwela was cleared, M’membe was convicted of contempt for running a commentary from a US-based lawyer about the case while the trial was still underway. – Nampa-AFP