Tayali Granted Bail In Defamation Case

Economic and Equity party leader Chilufya Tayali has at last been granted bail after being arrested on the charge of defaming President Edgar Lungu in a video on social media.

He has been released on a bond of K20,000 and the matter has been adjourned until June 23. 

Mr Tayali pleaded not guilty to the charge of defamation after realising a video criticising President Lungu for defending Patriotic Front ‘commander’ Innocent Kalimanshi. 

He accused the president of supporting “hooliganism”, after Kalimanshi played an instrumental role in sparking the violence which broke out at the PF secretariat building two weeks ago. The clash resulted in two journalists being seriously injured. 

Earlier this week, United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema spoke out against the unlawful detention of Mr Tayali, after he was detained for nearly a week without trial. 

HH called the situation ‘unacceptable’ and demanded that police expedite the process so that Mr Tayali could receive justice.

The case represents a growing trend of sustained and unlawful detention of opposition figures in Zambia. In February two UPND members - Anthony Bwalya and Mutiba Nawa - were illegally detained for over a week after they drew attention to a stash of irregularly issued National Registration Cards on Muvi TV.