I was abducted, injected with… – Why Me
By Esther Chisola
FRANCIS Kapwepwe, commonly known as Why Me, yesterday stunned a Lusaka magistrates court when he described in chilling detail how Zambian State agents abducted him in Zimbabwe, tied him up with wires and injected him with an unknown substance before sneaking him back to Zambia.
Standing boldly in the accused dock, Kapwepwe told the court he was kidnapped by agents sent by the Zambian government in Harare, Zimbabwe, and had his limbs tied up with ropes and wires.
Making an application for medical attention, the popular TikTok blogger told the court that while he was tied, State operatives injected him with an unknown chemical which has affected his health negatively.
“I have a complaint. From June 2, when the State kidnapped me from Harare, Zimbabwe, they tied me up with ropes and wires…,” he said.
A State prosecutor objected on the grounds that Kapwepwe was delving into the main matter.
Kapwepwe’s lawyer guided his client on how to proceed to give more details on how he was injected with an unknown substance by the State.
“The injection the State injected me, I’m not feeling well. I’m not feeling well, and even my sight is bad. Where I’m, the State has refused me to go to the hospital. I was beaten badly by prisoners, saying I had insulted Tongas. I want to be sent to the hospital,” he said.
Kapwepwe, 29, a businessman of Mufulira in the Copperbelt Province, is facing two counts of hate speech contrary to section 65 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act Number 2 of 2021 of Zambia.
He won his opportunity to give the public a rare insight of his harrowing capture in Zimbabwe when the court allowed him to make an application concerning his filing health in remand.
Shortly after the magistrate had adjourned the matter, Kapwepwe, who was alone in the accused dock, signaled to his lawyer Jonas Zimba that he wanted to address the court regarding his health.
Zimba notified the court and later granted Kapwepwe an opportunity to address the court.
Immediately after being placed on record, he briefly recounted how he was abducted and beaten while in police custody.
In cross-examination, asked if he had shown any injuries he had sustained, he said he had internal injuries.
Challenged to show the court the internal injuries, he pointed at his right side of his face, saying, “Here, at my face. That’s why I’m holding there,” Kapwepwe said.
Magistrate Andrew Mulenga ordered that he be taken to the hospital without delay.
Meanwhile, Kapwepwe’s lawyer, Zimba, has informed the court about his intention to apply for judicial review in relation to jurisdiction.
“The question has to do with the jurisdiction of this court to try the offences alleged. It is our submission that this court can only proceed, if at all it will, once the issue of jurisdiction is determined. We submit it is a threshold issue,” said Zimba.
State prosecutor Mukuma Chipawa did not object to the application but submitted on the importance of being notified on time.
Meanwhile the court has refused to grant Kapwepwe bail on the grounds that he has does not have a clear fixed address.
The magistrate said Kapwepwe was a serious flight risk because of how he had fled the country.
