Father Bwalya stuns Kasama Court, remains silent, calls no witnesses

Alliance for Better Zambia-ABZ leader Frank Bwalya on June 10th stunned people at the Court in Kasama when he declined to proceed with his defence in a case in which he is facing a charge of defaming Republican President Michael Sata.

When the matter came up for commencement of defence this morning, Father Bwalya told the court that he would remain silent and not call up any defence witnesses

He told Principal Resident Magistrate Vincent Siloka before a fully parked court room that his lawyer advised him to remain silent because he was put on his defence before the court listened to the recording of the programme on which the case is based.

Father Bwalya informed the court that his lawyer would therefore file in a submission regarding the subject.

Magistrate Siloka has since set 15th July, 2014 as the date for judgment in the matter.

And speaking to Mano News after the court session, Father Bwalya explained that the decision not to say anything in his defence came after a review of the case.

Defense in the matter failed to take off on 1st April and 6th May, 2014.

On 4th March, 2014, Magistrate Siloka found Father Bwalya with a case to answer and put him on his defense.

This was after the state concluded its case by calling seven prosecution witnesses.

Facts before the court are that on 6th January, this year Father Bwalya defamed President Sata by referring to him as ‘cumbu munshololwa, muwelewele, tatontokanya’ during a live Programme on Radio Mano.

Father Bwalya denies the charge.

Meanwhile, Father Bwalya this morning made efforts to formally report cadres who attempted to lynch him during a live programme on Radio Mano early this year to Kasama Central police.

However, Father Bwalya’s efforts failed to yield fruit today but vowed to pursue the matter after seeking further advice from his lawyers.

Radio Mano