The Mongu Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a medical doctor of Luampa Mission Hospital to three years imprisonment for defaming President Edgar Lungu.

According to a statement issued by police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo today, Dr Kwalela Kafunya had created a fake Facebook account which he used to insult the Head of State and post digitally enhanced images of President Lungu.

“Mongu Magistrates Court today convicted and sentenced a Medical Doctor of Luampa Mission Hospital in Western Province identified as Dr Kwalela Kafunya to three years imprisonment on three counts of Defamation of the President contrary to section 59 Chapter 87, Written Threats to Murder contrary to section 218 chapter 87 and Giving False Information to a Public Officer contrary to section 125 cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Facts of the matter are that Dr Kafunya created a fake Facebook Account for purposes of bringing the name of the Republican President in ridicule by posting disturbing remarks, insults and digitally altering images of the Republican President with intent to bring his name into disrepute using a Facebook account created in the names of another person who is also a medical Doctor at the same Hospital,” stated Katongo.

“Dr Kafunya further sent written ‘threats to Murder’ to the Doctor in whose name the Facebook account was created through text messages while in another count, Dr Kafunya gave False Information to a Public Officer of Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Police Station.”

Katongo welcomed the judgement and warned those in the habit of abusing social media that the law would catch up with them.

“For the offences of Defamation of the President and Giving False Information to a Public Officer, Dr Kafunya was sentenced to two years imprisonment for each count while for written threat to Murder; he was sentenced to three years.
The sentences will run concurrently meaning that he will serve a period of three years.
As Zambia Police, we welcome this judgment and we believe that this conviction will send a strong warning to all those that are in a habit of abusing social media because officers are working round the clock to bring perpetrators to book,” stated Katongo.