THE Lusaka Magistrates Court has cleared a 29-year-old police officer and ended a year long ordeal in which she was wrongly dragged into a scandal involving the circulation of obscene photos and videos on social media.
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Nyarai Kambelembele, who serves in the Zambia Police Service public relations department was discharged after prosecutors withdrew the case against her, citing insufficient evidence to sustain the charges.
She had faced two serious counts under the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act of 2021 of allegedly storing and distributing obscene material, accusations which, if proven, carried heavy consequences both for her career and personal reputation.
According to a court notice dated September 24, 2025, the case was withdrawn under section 88(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, and she was formally set free.
State prosecutors had initially alleged that between September 24 and 27, 2024, the officer shared explicit material in a WhatsApp group for the Zambia Police Paramilitary Jubilee Intake 51/52.
But when the matter came up, it became clear that the images did not match her likeness and there was no evidence linking her to the alleged posts.
“Whereas, Nyarai Kambelembele on the 15th day of September, 2025 stood charged before this court for the offence of obscene matters or things, contrary to section 59(1)(a) Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act NO.2 OF 2021 and prohibition of pornography contrary to section 56(3)(b) of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act NO.2 OF 2021 of the laws of Zambia.”
“I hereby notify you that this matter was on 24th day of September 2025 withdrawn pursuant to section 88(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code Chapter 88 of the laws of Zambia. Accused forthwith discharged dated
at Lusaka this 26th day of September 2025,” read the notice.
The case struggled from the onset because one of the charges required formal consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions before a plea could even be taken.
That consent never came and when the matter was recalled on Wednesday last week, prosecutors conceded that there was no sufficient basis to proceed.
The withdrawal of the case means the young officer walks away with her name cleared after the baseless accusations took a toll on her.
Kalemba, September 29, 2025
