PF CADRE Innocent Kalimanshi, commonly known as “PF national commander” yesterday failed to show up at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for a case in which he is accused of defaming Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo, as he was allegedly involved in an accident over the weekend.

Social media was on Sunday awash with images of Kalimanshi lying on a couch in what looked like a living room with a bloody leg after allegedly being involved in a road traffic accident.

This is in a matter in which Kalimanshi, 40, a businessman of Lusaka’s Leopards Hill, is facing a charge of libel.

It is alleged that on November 8, 2020, Kalimanshi unlawfully published a defamatory matter affecting Kampyongo in the form of a WhatsApp message in which Kalimanshi said:

“When the President decided to drop one position from you and gave it to Kelvin Sampa, you got annoyed and sent me to be saying bad things against Kelvin Sampa, you also said that when you were arrested for the offence of assault and was in custody, I did give instructions to the police to deny you police bond, and that I had taken a sack of sausages to Mr Musonda (the Criminal Investigations Officer), you further alleged that whilst you were in Johannesburg on known dates, I had sent some people to go and kill you.”

However, when the matter came up yesterday for plea before Lusaka Magistrate Felix Kaoma, the accused was not before court.

At this point, his lawyer Agripper Malando informed the Court that his client, Kalimanshi, was absent because he was involved in a road traffic accident.

He said Kalimanshi was involved in a road traffic accident on Sunday and was currently receiving treatment.

The accused’s surety Edwin Moyo also confirmed to the Court that Kalimanshi was unwell.

He further presented a certificate of admission to the Court.

The matter comes up on January 8, this year.