Blogger Musyani becomes latest cyber law casualty
By George Zulu
LUSAKA resident magistrate Mutinta Mwenya has sentenced Facebook blogger Elias Musyani to six months imprisonment and fined him K70,000.
Musyani has been jailed for issuing threats of rape and abduction against Kidist Kifle, the wife of musician Elton Mulenga popularly known as Yo Maps, and their daughter.
Delivering the judgment, yesterday Mwenya found Musyani guilty on two counts of harassment using means of electronic communication, contrary to Section 69 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No 2 of 2021 of the Laws of Zambia.
The two charges emanated from the Facebook posts he made in April 2024, in which he used threatening and demeaning language aimed at causing emotional distress, intimidation and harassment.
In count one, on April 8, 2024, Musyani posted a message on his Facebook page referencing Kidist a private incident involving Yo Maps, a public figure in a derogatory and mocking tone.
In count two, between April 12 and 20 last year, he published another post containing violent threats, referencing physical assault and abduction of Kidist and her family.
After trial in the matter, which was prosecuted by senior public prosecutors Malama Chisenga and Joe Phiri, who called five witnesses, Musyani was found with a case to answer but chose to remain silent in his defence.
Passing judgment, magistrate Mwenya found Musyani guilty on both counts.
She acknowledged that the blogger was a first-time offender.
However, Mwenya said in order to send a strong message to would-be offenders, she was sentencing him to six months imprisonment and imposed a fine of K70,000.”
