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Opposition leader charged with defaming Chiluba

    JOHANNESBURG

    The secretary-general of Zambia’s main opposition party, Edith Nawakwi, has been charged with defaming President Frederick Chiluba, reports said on Tuesday. Nawakwi’s lawyer, Mutembo Nchito, said that police had charged Nawakwi and that she had signed a statement. He added: “They said she defamed the president when she accused Chiluba of being a thief at a political rally.” According to news reports, if Nawakwi is found guilty of defaming the president she faces up to three years in prison.

    “I still stand by my words. I am among lawmakers who are still pushing for the impeachment of the president. All the charges levelled against him are criminal,” Nawakwi told AFP. “I am not the only one who is saying the president has committed criminal offences. But why is the police only following me?” Nawakwi asked.

    Nawakwi had served as labour minister under Chiluba before she was dismissed in May, along with 21 other senior officials who later formed the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD).

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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