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State of the media in Southern Africa 2002
2002
parent show of solidarity with their
leader, who had been called for questioning.
They were holding placards
and chanting anti-government slogans
both outside and along corridors of the
police station. A police officer saw me
taking the photos inside the station,
grabbed my camera and forced me
into one of the offices, where I was
kept for about 20 minutes while police
decided what to do with me,” he
told the Zambia Independent Media
Association (ZIMA).
Miyanza said the police ordered
him to accompany them to a film
processing shop in town to develop
the film. When it was developed, they
decided to keep the pictures taken
both outside and inside the station,
claiming the film included pictures of
sensitive areas of the police station.
However, Miyanza protested this
claim, saying “I have taken shots before
in the police station.”
Goodson Machona, assistant editor
of “The Monitor”, confirmed
Miyanza’s story. However, he denied
that it was the result of his
photojournalist’s mistake. “Miyanza
is a good photojournalist who keeps
himself out of trouble. I suppose his
only mistake is that he wants to get
the best picture when some people
don’t want him to,” Machona said.
Lusaka Division Police Commanding
Officer Francis Kabonde told
ZIMA that his office was holding
Miyanza’s pictures. “The photos are
on my desk. I will release only those
that I feel are not putting the nation’s
security at risk,” he said.
Miyanza’s lawyer Leah Mtonga
said efforts to retrieve the photos from
the police had failed. “We went to the
police and found that Kabonde and his
156 So This Is Democracy?
deputy had gone out on an assignment
to State House,” she said.
ALERT
DATE: 2002-05-30
PERSON(S): Emmanuel Chilekwa
VIOLATION(S): Detained
On May 28 2002, police ordered
Emmanuel Chilekwa, editor of the
privately-owned “People” weekly, to
report to police headquarters in
Lusaka on May 29 for questioning.
Police said the questioning was related
to an article that alleged President
Levy Mwanawasa is suffering
from Parkinson’s disease.
On May 29, Chilekwa was informed
by police that they were investigating
a “defamation of the president”
complaint. “Defamation of the
president” is an offence under Section
69 of the Zambian Penal Code. Under
its provision, it is an offence to
bring hatred, ridicule or contempt to
the reputation of the president, to publish
any defamatory matter, whether
in writing, print, word of mouth, or
any other form or manner. A conviction
carries a jail term of up to three
years without the option of a fine.
Norman Sampa, a lawyer who accompanied
Chilekwa to the police
headquarters, told the Zambia Independent
Media Association (ZIMA)
that police merely read out the facts
of the case to his client. Chilekwa refused
to answer any questions and was
told that he may be required to appear
before the police again in the future
“if [the] need arose.” He was then allowed
to go.
Chilekwa informed ZIMA that he
stands by his story because the issues
being raised in his newspaper are of