State Loses Ground In Eric Chanda Defamation Case

The state is losing its grip on the defamation of the President case against Post Newspapers journalists Joan Chirwa and Mukosha Funga alongside Fourth Revolution Party president Eric Chanda.

Whenever the case has come up for mention since March 22, the state has not been ready to proceed with prosecutors informing the court that they are still awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecution.

This morning when the case came up, the state offered the routine excuse with Acting Resident Magistrate Kenneth Mulife warning that he may be forced to discharge the accused if the state continues dragging its feet.

The trio is facing a charge of defamation following remarks by Chanda that appeared in The Post where President Edgar Lungu was photographed playing pool with the opposition leader saying the Head of State could not warn his aides against drinking as his ways were that of a drunkard.

Lawyer for Chirwa and Funga, Nchima Nchito asked the court to discharge his clients as the state did not seem to have a case.

Chanda is representing himself and contends that the case is pure persecution.

Magistrate Mulife adjourned the case to July 28 for possible mention and commencement of trial.

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