LEADER of the Facebook-based Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) Sean Tembo has refused to take plea on the newly-amended charges of insulting language on reasons that they are flawed.
Tembo insisted that he would only answer to the charges when the State perfects the defective indictment.
The foul-talking opposition leader is charged with two counts of using insulting language when he uttered derogatory remarks against the President on his Facebook page.
Allegations are that the keyboard gangster snubbed the President for ’bad management’ and referred to him as a halfwit.
Tembo also referred the interventions taken by government to produce cheap ZNS mealie meal to self stimulation.
It is alleged in the first count that Tembo on August 27, 2023 used insulting language when he said, “Bally apa akangiwa kuipa. But mu 2026 ngati bantu bafuna kuvotela chipuba chinangu, it’s fine, SET can wait for 2031.”The said words were referred to President Hakainde Hichilema, in a manner likely to provoke him.
In the second count it is alleged that Tembo on October 17, 2023 said ” Bally is selling a few bags of ZNS mealie meal using Shoprite, hoping to create a perception of low price is equal masturbation,” insulting language likely to provoke Abel Mashowo.
When the matter came up for plea before Lusaka chief resident magistrate Davies Chibwili Tembo’s lawyer Norman Siwila said his client would not take plea as the charges were duplicated.
He requested the State to make clean the indictment or free his client if it was not ready to try him.
State prosecutor Abraham Ngozoh asked for time to read up so that he could respond to the defense.
Magistrate Chibwili adjourned the case to February 21.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba February 7, 2024.
 Sean Tembo has refused to take plea on the newly-amended charges of insulting language on reasons that they are flawed.){kind=link}