BRIAN Mundubile, Makebi deposited back to Mukobeko Maximum prison as case adjourned to October for plea
NATIONAL Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile yesterday appeared before Solwezi Magistrates Court alongside his running mate, Makebi Zulu, in a case in which they are charged with seditious practices.
The duo appeared before principal resident magistrate Mambwe Mukonde for plea and possible commencement of trial.
However, proceedings could not go ahead as Mr Mundubile’s lawyers were not present in court
Mr Mundubile, who had been transported from Kabwe’s Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility, applied for an adjournment to allow his legal team to attend the proceedings.
Mr Zulu also sought an adjournment to allow the defence adequate time to prepare for trial.
He told the court that he had only received the charge sheet upon arriving at Solwezi Airport.
Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri, who led the state prosecution team, told the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the matter.
“The State is ready to proceed. We have our witnesses and we were ready for plea and commencement of trial,” Mr Phiri said.
He, however, said the State had no objection to the defence application for an adjournment, saying the decision was being made in the interest of justice.
The two accused persons are facing seditious practices charges arising from social media statements allegedly made during the election period.
Mr Mundubile is accused of making a Facebook post in which he allegedly claimed that NRPUP was leading the 2026 presidential election based on the party’s Parallel Vote Tabulation.
He is further accused of calling on Electoral Commission of Zambia to resume vote counting after the process had been suspended.
Mr Zulu is separately accused of making a social media post stating that Mr Mundubile would address the nation and calling on supporters to remain on standby.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 5 and 6 for further proceeding
Mr Mundubile was cautioned to ensure that his legal team is present at the next sitting. Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, defence lawyer Sakwiba Sikota questioned the decision to have the matter heard in Solwezi when the alleged offences were said to have occurred in Lusaka.
“The alleged offence is said to have occurred in Lusaka and the arrest was in Kabwe,” Mr Sikota said.
He questioned why the case had been transferred to Solwezi, arguing that no explanation had been provided for moving the proceedings away from the accused persons’ family members and their lawyers.