3 July 2009
POLICE yesterday recorded a warn and caution statement from The Post news editor Chansa Kabwela for possession of obscene material contrary to the laws of Zambia.
The warn and caution statement from Ms Kabwela was recorded after interrogating her for close to three hours in connection with pictures she sent out of a woman in childbirth.
Post Newspapers legal counsel Sam Mujuda and managing editor Amos Malupenga accompanied Ms Kabwela to the police station.
Speaking to journalists after the interrogations, Mr Mujuda said that a warn and caution statement was recorded from Ms Kabwela in connection with the nude pictures.
"They have recorded a warn and caution statement from her. They are alleging that she was in possession of obscene materials contrary to the laws of Zambia. They also said that she was circulating material which corrupts the morals of citizens," he said.
In a letter dated June 10, 2009, to Vice-President George Kunda and copied to the minister of Health, Secretary to the Cabinet, Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Women for Change and the Roman Catholic Church Archbishop of Lusaka, Ms Kabwela enclosed the pictures urging quick action against the strike.
She said she had sent the pictures of the woman in the hope that it would move the Government to take quick action and end the strike by health workers.
But NGOCC board chairperson, Marian Munyinda said in a letter dated June 12 that although the strike by health workers had infuriated her organisation, the means used by The Post to portray the desperation was inappropriate.
Following the protest, Ms Kabwela on June 15 apologised to the NGOCC for having offended the women's movement by sending the pictures.
She said the pictures were not taken by The Post but by the husband of the woman captured in childbirth who had allegedly complained that such should not happen to other women.
Ms Kabwela said the intention of sending the pictures to a few selected people was to make them aware of the situation so that they could be moved to do something about the plight of women as a result of the strike.
The pictures of the woman giving birth was circulated widely on the Internet, prompting President Rupiah Banda, during his last news conference, to instruct the police to find out the source and ensure that the offender was prosecuted.
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