STATE DOES NOT WANT VIDEO FOOTAGE AT MAKEBI ZULU’S RESIDENCE TO BE SHOWN, SAYS SAKWIBA SIKOTA.
The State has raised another preliminary objection before the Lusaka High Court, seeking to have video footage showing a raid at the residence of lawyer and 2026 National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) running mate Makebi Zulu expunged from the court record.
The objection was raised by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri during proceedings in a constitutional bail application involving presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, Mr Zulu and 16 others.
Defence lawyer Sakwiba Sikota says the State wants certain paragraphs in the applicants’ affidavit in reply, which refer to video footage contained on a flash disk, struck out from the court record.
The latest objection has further delayed the hearing of the substantive bail application, which was scheduled to begin at 09:00 hours, following a request by Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha for an adjournment due to another court commitment.
The development comes a day after the court dismissed an earlier preliminary objection by the State, which challenged the procedure adopted by the applicants in commencing the constitutional bail application.
In dismissing the objection, the court ruled that there was no law or court rule preventing an aggrieved person from seeking constitutional bail through the procedure adopted by the applicants.
The 18 applicants, who have been in custody since August 14, 2026, over alleged treason, sedition and terrorism-related offences, are seeking either unconditional release or bail under reasonable conditions.
They have sued Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha and DPP Gilbert Phiri, arguing that their continued detention violates their constitutional rights.
Zambian Watch.