By Agness Changala
Mfuwe member of Parliament Maureen Mabonga yesterday left Chimbokaila Prisons where she spent seven days, after the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court granted her bail pending trial in a case she is charged with two counts of seditious practices.
Mabonga was granted K150,000 bail in her own recognisance with two working sureties in the likesum.
Taking plea before Lusaka Magistrate Trevor Kasanda, Mabonga who is being represented Makebi Zulu, Jonas Zimba and Leon Lemba pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Passing ruling on a bail pending trial application, magistrate Kasanda said Mabonga was not a flight risk and granted her K150,000 bail in her own recognizance.
“I have taken into consideration both sides and taking note of what the defence counsel said that she is a member of Parliament and of fixed abode, I see she’s not a flight risk. Accused is granted bail of K150,000 in her own recognizance with two working sureties in the like sum and she should surrender the passport to the Clerk of Court,” Magistrate Kasanda ordered.
Magistrate Kasanda adjourned the case to July 3, 2024, for commencement of trial.
In count one, it is alleged that Mabonga on a date unknown but between May 25, 2024 and May 28, 2024, in Lusaka, uttered seditious words to wit: “Do you want us to be moving with guns? Start killing each other? Is this where we are going? Is this what we want as Zambians? Because we can do it. Today it is Jay Jay that has been abducted. Tomorrow it is another person and you want us to sit back and relax… ” to incite violence or any offence prejudicial to public order or in disturbance of the public peace.
In count two, It is called that Mabonga, between the same dates, in Lusaka, uttered seditious words to wit: “Every Bemba speaking is a criminal according to them and they must not leave even people from Eastern Province…They hate him because he is from the Eastern Province. They hate him because he is close to Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The man they hate for doing nothing. So, they hate Jay Jay Banda because he is also from PF. So, it is okay for Jay Jay Banda to die because he is PF. We are not going to lose our people like that. We are not going to lose our people like that and we sit back just like that…”
PF members led by Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda received Mabonga after she came out of prison.
