CHIEF Mukuni of Southern Province yesterday took to the dock and denied allegations by Economic and Equity Party (EEP) president Chilufya Tayali that he was behind the gassing incidents of 2019-2020.
But the traditional leader told Lusaka Magistrate Silvia Munyinya that he is living in fear of being attacked by relatives of people who were killed during the gassing incidents because of the allegations levelled against him by Mr Tayali.
The traditional leader said he was shocked that Mr Tayakli, in a live Facebook video, accused him of being among the masterminds behind the country’s gassing incidents.
Chief Mukuni was testifying against Tayali in a case the politician is charged with harassment using means of electronic communication, an offence in section 69 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Acts number 2 of 2021 of the Laws of Zambia.
On November 10, 2022, Tayali, while acting with other unknown persons and with intent to harass and cause emotional distress by use of a computer system, allegedly went live on his Facebook page dubbed EEP president Chilufya Tayali.
Through the online social media platform, the accused issued a statement against Chief Mukuni saying:
“Chief Mukuni was the brain child behind the gassing crimes that characterised the country between 2019 and 2020 for the purpose of getting Hakainde out of prison”.
During trial, Chief Mukuni said on the material day, he was browsing through social media when he came across a clip in which the EEP leader , on his Facebook page, was accusing him of being behind the gassing crimes.
“He said some traditional leaders were involved in the staging of gassing and he mentioned my name. He said ask ‘Chief Mukuni, as Chief Mukuni. He said we staged the gassing saga with a view to get Mr [Hakainde] Hichilema released from prison,” Chief Mukumi narrated.
He complained that the allegations left him mentally stressed.
“I was living in fear of being attacked by relatives of victims who died during gassing. My safety was compromised, knowing that, normally, perceptions carry more weight than the facts. People may believe that I was behind the loss of lives,” the chief said.
He said: “It wasn’t true that I was involved”.
In cross examination, defence lawyer Benjamin Mwelwa asked if in the clip, Tayali made reference to him as Chief Munokalya Siloka Mukuni or just Chief Mukuni.
The chief said the accused mentioned his title.
Mwebantu
