Police Arrest Photographer For Facebook Post

Police in Lusaka have arrested photographer Chellah Tukuta in connection with Facebook posts criticising Information Minister Dora Siliya and other public officials.

Police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo confirmed the arrest on Thursday, saying that Mr Tukuta would be charged with four counts of criminal libel.

“Police in Lusaka have arrested Chella Tukuta for Criminal Libel. This is in connection with some derogatory remarks alleged to have been produced and posted on social media by the accused person against Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Hon. Dora Siliya, Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General(ZRA), Kingsley Chanda, Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Charles Sipanje and Former Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda,” she said.

Mr Tukuta is currently in police custody awaiting charges. He is also expected to face further charges in the Copperbelt. 

Tukuta was among the three media personalities threatened by Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo, who urged dissidents to stop using social media to criticise the government or face criminal charges. 

The photographer has refused to apologise for his videos, in which he accused several government officials of corruption. 

Chellah Tukuta