Patriotic Front (PF) faction Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda has been sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour after being found guilty of hate speech. Lusaka Resident Magistrate Ida Phiri delivered the judgement on Tuesday, convicting Nakacinda for expressing hatred, ridicule, and contempt against a person based on race, colour, tribe, and place of origin. The offence stemmed from remarks concerning President Hakainde Hichilema’s election in 2021.
In her ruling, Magistrate Phiri stated the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. She emphasized that a custodial sentence was necessary to deter other potential offenders. Following mitigation by the defence, the magistrate ordered the six-month sentence to run concurrently with sentences Nakacinda is already serving in other concluded matters.
Magistrate Phiri warned that politics driven by hate speech fosters division and polarisation. She also expressed concern over a growing tendency among politicians across the political spectrum to engage in such language.
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