A ZAMBIA Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) official has told a court how the authority dealt with a complaint from Millennium Radio on a caller who allegedly misused telecommunication services by defaming President Edgar Lungu. ZICTA social media and compliance officer Boniface Sianankange said the radio station complained about a caller who uttered unprintables against the head of State. This is in a case Fred Maanya, 34, of Zaoni Street in Luanshya, is charged with defamation of the President.

It is alleged that on March 28 last year, in Lusaka, Maanya, with intent to bring the name of the President into ridicule, published insulting words against the head of State during a live phone-in radio programme. When the case came up yesterday before Lusaka chief resident magistrate Lameck Mwale, Mr Sianankange told the court that on March 28 last year, he received a complaint from Millennium Radio regarding the misuse of telecommunication services.

“Details of the complaint were that the radio station hosts a morning phone-in programme which involves interacting with the public. “On the material day, a caller introduced himself as Chanda of Kabwe,” he narrated. He said the caller started by praising President Lungu for his intention to re-open Mulungushi Textiles in Kabwe.

“In the middle of the call, the caller changed the tone of the conversation and started insulting, using derogatory remarks to the head of State,” he said. Mr Sianankange said at that point, the presenters were in shock and cut the caller’s line. “I got the complaint and ran it through ZICTA’s mandate to formulate user acceptable g u i d e l i n e s a n d c o n s u m e r protection.

“I then submitted the case to the police for further investigations,” Mr Sianankange said. In cross-examination, defence lawyer Mulambo Haimbe asked Mr Sianankange whether he had any information to link Maanya to the offence, and the witness replied in the negative. The case was adjourned to April 17 and 27 this year for mention and continuation of trial.