Jailing of journalist Sinjela a terrible indictment on Government
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All People’s Congress Party president Nason Msoni has described the jailing of Lusaka-based journalist Derrick Sinjela as a terrible indictment on the government.Sinjela, the editor-in-chief of Rainbow newspaper has been slapped with a 18-month jail sentence by the Supreme Court after convicting him of contempt of court by his own admission.
Commenting on the sentencing of Sinjela, Msoni says the move was essentially an international matter which will haunt the state.
The opposition leader says it is shameful that the government now wants to silence citizens using the Constitutional Court.”Jailing of Journalist Sinjela is shameful and troubling. It would appear that the court didn’t do an introspection on the Jailing of Mr Gregory Chifire. It is our considered view that an opportunity has yet been lost to do the right thing. This is a season of goodwill which should have compelled the court to exercise maximum leniency,” Msoni said in a statement.
“We are utterly sad by this decision and we think an opportunity to fix the international image of the country has yet again been lost.
“We condemn the jailing of a good man in the strongest terms and we appeal to our fraternal friends from the international Community to help secure the release of Mr Sinjela a seasoned practitioner of Journalism. Our hearts and sympathy go to his family and regret that he will not be with them during the festival season.”
He said there is urgent need to have judicial reforms.
“We think Judicial reforms are imperative to undertake in the circumstances given the apparent glaring errors of law and the misdirections.”