A FORMER teacher has pleaded guilty to three counts of defamation of the President, contrary to Section 69 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Enockson Banda, 27, has also admitted being in possession of obscene material tending to corrupt morals.
Banda had initially denied all the counts but when the case came up for continued trial before Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya yesterday, he applied to the court to change his plea.
He admitted insulting the President between April 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018, with intent to bring the Head of State’s name into ridicule.
When Banda initially appeared in last July, his details indicated that he was a teacher at Msolo Primary School in Samfya district but his current court record shows that he is unemployed.
Asked by the court if he had lawful justification to publish the said defamatory statements on social media, Banda said he did not but that he did so out of anger.
The court has adjourned the matter to March 4, 2019 for facts and possible sentencing and the accused person’s bail has been extended.
