NKANA Member of Parliament, Binwell Mpundu, was unable to take his plea yesterday in a case where he’s charged with seditious practices.
When the matter came up for allocation before chief resident magistrate Davies Chibwili, he inquired why the accused was not present in court to enter his plea.
In response, Mpundu’s lawyer, Norman Siwila, informed the court that his client was unwell.
A surety was then called upon to explain Mpundu’s absence.
Christopher Kango’mbe, the Member of Parliament for Kamfinsa constituency, confirmed that Mpundu was indeed unwell. “Binwell Mpundu is unwell, and I have a sick note from Kitwe Teaching Hospital in support,” he stated.
The court granted Mpundu the benefit of the doubt and accepted the sick note.
“I have had a look at the sick note and though it does not tell me much, I am giving the accused a benefit of a doubt,” Magistrate Chibwili remarked.
The allegations against Mpundu state that on December 20, 2024, in Lusaka, he published seditious words.
He is quoted as saying: “Defend yourself with equal measure. Fellow citizens I am out of the country and I have received this report of the attack on Mr Sean Tembo and team by Trevor Mwiinde and team with so much pain in my heart. Trevor Mwiinde is the man reported to have been behind the abduction of Hon Jay Jay Banda and walks free because the police cannot touch him and today he’s reported to have led an assault on Mr Tembo right in front of the Luapula Commissioner of Police Mr Yuyi Mwaya.”
The post went on to state: “I can only say this to my fellow politicians, one thing is very clear that we are on our own and it’s time we got ready to start defending ourselves with equal measure. I urge my fellow politicians to buy guns in readiness to defend yourselves. Look, the law provides for self-defence when you are attacked and so if the police will watch you being attacked and are prepared to even facilitate for that attack as being reported then only one thing remains… BE READY TO DEFEND YOURSELVES. May God save Zambia.”
These words are alleged to have been published to incite violence or any offence prejudicial to public order or in disturbance of the public peace.
Magistrate Chibwili has since adjourned the matter to August 18, 2025, for the plea.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba July 29, 2025
