Katele Kalumba Granted K100,000 Bail After Pleading Not Guilty to Seditious Practices
Former Finance Minister Dr. Katele Kalumba has pleaded not guilty to one count of seditious practices before Lusaka Principal Resident Magistrate Webster Milumbe.
The plea came after the State informed the court that Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri has issued a certificate authorizing his prosecution.
Dr. Kalumba is charged with seditious practices contrary to Sections 57(1)(h) and 60(1)(e) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that between August 1 and 13, 2026, Dr. Kalumba published seditious statements on his Facebook page, accusing President Hakainde Hichilema of being responsible for alleged abductions, killings and strangulations, and warning of public resistance if the August 13 General Election was rigged.
Dr. Kalumba initially entered an equivocal plea, which occurs when an accused admits guilt but makes a statement that casts doubt on the admission or suggests a possible defence. The court therefore entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf and set November 10, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Milumbe has granted Dr. Kalumba K100,000 bail with two Lusaka-based sureties in the like sum, pending trial.
The bail application was made by his lawyer, Henry Mulenga, who submitted that Dr. Kalumba had been in detention for about 20 days and was not a flight risk.
The State did not oppose the application. In granting bail, Magistrate Milumbe directed that the two proposed sureties be interviewed by the court and that each be bound by a K100,000 recognizance.
Source: Phoenix FM
15 October 2026 | Trending Stories TV
The walker is just a prelude of things to come. Very soon, Dr. Kalumba will be too sick to attend court sessions.
The script is very familiar.
Yes,he pretends to frail and very old now that their plans to take over government by force have failed.Dont get hoodwinked this time
It is called malingering.
When I was growing up we used to respect old people because of their wisdom. Nowadays, these old fellas are idiots, and one of them is this same trouble maker. He thinks he is clever by pretending to to frail when he was insulting with a lot of energy.
Yes “….HH,these elections,you will not rig! You will be shot at! You are a Satanist with help of Freemasons.Come get me if you can!Come with your army ,your commandos, and see if they will go back alive! I have CCTV everywhere…”
Now, this fool is using a walker soliciting sympathy
He was very sure Mundubile would break loose and grab power.* Will surprised if he doesn’t contact Banda for little JJ to disappear
The point about his pretenious frality is the basis of his guilty. Am sure in his arguement he will use some psychological basis and the fact that he was drunk. And will walk away on the basis of a technicality in law….just my speculation.