MAGISTRATE CALLS TAYALI’S SURETIES TO EXPLAIN HIS ABSENCE

Principal Resident Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya has called on two of fugitive politician Chilufya Tayali’s sureties to explain why they haven’t brought him to court, nearly a year after his last appearance.

During Wednesday’s hearing regarding the bench warrant issued for Tayali, one surety—Nakonde Member of Parliament Lukas Simumba—was present, while his Mpika counterpart, Francis Kapyanga, was absent.

Magistrate Munyinya pointed out that both sureties failed to fulfill their duty to present Tayali and ordered them to provide an explanation in court today, as the bench warrant remains active.

Tayali, who leads the Economic and Equity Party (EEP), has been evading court proceedings for almost a year without giving any explanation.

He faces charges for allegedly making defamatory statements against Senior Chief Mukuni of the Toka Leya people in Livingstone. These allegations arose from a social media broadcast on November 10, 2022, where Tayali accused Chief Mukuni of being involved in the gas attacks that troubled Zambia from 2019 to 2022.

In his broadcast, Tayali reportedly said:
“People talk about gassing; Hakainde Hichilema, you know about it. Do you hear him mention the sabotages happening? Traditional leaders were involved; I know who they are. Ask Chief Mukuni; he was not idle; he stayed at Golden Peacock while chaos unfolded across the country. What I said is true, and you can arrest me for it; Chief Mukuni knows exactly what I’m talking about.”

Tayali faces charges under the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act for allegedly using a computer system to harass and distress the traditional leader.

The case has been postponed to today for the return of the bench warrant and to discuss the next steps.