DPP rejects media bodies request

DPP rejects media bodies request
Written by PFC
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 4:52:39 AM

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga has refused to grant permission to two private prosecutors to be joined to the proceedings in a case where MMD Lusaka youth chairman Chris Chalwe is charged with assaulting two journalists.

This is in a matter where Chalwe, 42, is facing two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. In count one, Chalwe is alleged to have assaulted Post journalist Chibaula David Silwamba.

Particulars of the offence are that Chalwe on July 29, 2009 in Lusaka assaulted Silwamba, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.

In count two, Chalwe is accused of having assaulted Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa.

Facts before court are that Chalwe on July 29 in Lusaka District did assault Mulowa, thereby occasioning him bodily harm. Chalwe pleaded not guilty to both counts.

The two private prosecutors, Musa Mwenye and Eddie Mwitwa, were appointed by Zambia Union of Journalists (JUZ), Media Institute in Southern Africa (MISA-Zambia), the Zambia Media Women Association (Zamwa), Panos Southern Africa, United Nations Information Centre and the Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Information Disseminators (ZUBID) to join the proceedings to ensure the case was prosecuted in a transparent manner.

But the DPP declined to authorize the private prosecutors join the proceedings.

According to a statement issued by media bodies released last Friday, Mchenga had declined to authorize the private prosecutors join the case without any good cause.

The media bodies have indicated that they would issue fresh instructions to its lawyers on how to proceed with the matter and have vowed to closely watch the proceedings of the case.

The case comes up for commencement of trial on September 17.