By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
A LUSAKA-based lawyer, Martha Mushipe has pleaded not guilty to a seditious practice charge.
Mushipe, who is on K25, 000 bail, is alleged to have been in her possession seditious material ‎between July 1, 2015 and April 11, 2016 in Lusaka jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown persons and without lawful excuse.
The documents included the strategy of domination by the Patriotic Front (PF) against the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) 2015 to‎ 2016 and beyond, UPND at crossroads transition or conflict, PF’s use of ethnic divide and rule as a means of maintaining political control in Zambia 2015 to 2016 and beyond.
They are alleged to have been authored‎ by Tendai Muduli, Ngosa Simbyakula and Dydymus Mutasa.
When the matter was called up for mention before Magistrate Felix Kaoma yesterday, the State informed the court that they were in receipt of consent to prosecute the matter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mr Kaoma then informed Mushipe that since the consent was ready, he would proceed to read out the charge to her.
After the charge was read out to her, Mushipe said she understood the offence but she was not guilty.
Mr Kaoma entered a plea of not guilty and adjourned the case to November 22, 2016 for mention while trial would commence on December 12, 2016.
Mushipe, the managing partner at Mushipe and Associates, is being represented by Nelly Mutti, Keith Mweemba and Gilbert Phiri.
Meanwhile, a matter where UPND vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba is charged with threatening violence on President Edgar Lungu has been adjourned to November 15, 2016 for commencement of trial.
Mwamba was yesterday scheduled to appear for mention before Magistrate Nthandaso Chalaba but could not proceed because the magistrate was indisposed.
Mwamba was equally not before court but one of his lawyers, Martha Mushipe was present.