The Kasama High Court has confirmed the conviction of former Information minister Chishimba Kambwili, rejecting his appeal against a five-month hard labor sentence.
This decision, made by a group of three High Court Judges, comes almost two years after Mr. Kambwili made controversial comments on a local radio show that were considered hateful and disrespectful towards the Tonga-speaking community.
The initial conviction was given on November 30, 2023, by the Subordinate Court in Kasama.
Mr. Kambwili was found guilty under Section 70(1) of the Penal Code, which makes it illegal to express or show hatred, mockery, or contempt towards people based on their tribe or where they come from.
His provocative comments were made during a live broadcast at Radio Mano Community Radio Station on August 2, 2021.
The court decided that his remarks were not only intentional and illegal but also posed a risk of igniting tribal conflicts and jeopardizing national unity.
Dissatisfied with the sentence, Mr. Kambwili appealed, while the State responded with a cross-appeal, seeking a possibly harsher punishment.
Both cases were discussed on October 9, 2024, with the decision held until today.
In its ruling, the High Court rejected all of Mr. Kambwili’s appeal arguments, saying they were not valid.
The original sentence was maintained, and the court ordered Mr. Kambwili to start serving his sentence right away, effective today, July 14, 2025.
