A 35-year-old man of Lusaka’s Barlestone area in Lusaka West has been arrested for defaming President Hakainde Hichilema in a TikTok video.
Lawrence Muchinda is believed to have published defamatory matter on August 21st this year against the head of state using TikTok.
Zambia Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga has since warned members of the public that gone are the days that they can commit offences without expecting to be traced and arrested.
“Police at Kabwata Police Station have formally charged and arrested Lawrence Bwalya Muchinda aged 35 of unmarked residence in Barlestone in Lusaka west for the offence of Defamation of the President Contrary to Section 69 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia. Brief facts of the matter are that the accused on August, 21st, 2022 at unknown time in Lusaka City of Lusaka Province of the Republic of Zambia did by way of using Tik Tok a social media application in his names publish defamatory remarks against the President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-In-of the Defence Force, Mr Hakainde Hichilema,” he said.
Mr Hamoonga said the accused is currently detained in custody and will appear in court soon.
“The Zambia Police Service would like to warn persons who are in the habit of committing criminal offences on the cyber space that gone are the days that they can commit offences and expect not to be traced and arrested,” he said.
Source; Mwebantu
