Patriotic Front (PF) member and outspoken former government minister Chishimba Kambwili will now begin serving a five-month prison sentence, after the Kasama High Court dismissed his appeal against a 2023 hate speech conviction.
In November 2023, Kambwili was found guilty and sentenced to five months’ imprisonment with hard labour by the Kasama Magistrates’ Court. The court ruled that his tribal and regional remarks, made during the 2021 general election campaign, amounted to hate speech and incitement — violating laws aimed at preserving national unity and discouraging divisive rhetoric.
Kambwili, a prominent political figure known for his no-holds-barred commentary and former Information Minister, had hoped the High Court would overturn the sentence or reduce its severity. However, in a decisive ruling delivered today, the High Court affirmed the lower court’s decision, stating that the sentence was appropriate given the gravity of the offense and its potential impact on national harmony.
The court also emphasized the need for political leaders to exercise caution in their public statements, especially during sensitive periods such as national elections. The dismissal of the appeal effectively closes the legal chapter, and Kambwili is now expected to be transferred to prison to begin serving his sentence.
The case has stirred strong reactions across Zambia’s political landscape. Some have welcomed the ruling as a bold stance against hate speech, while others within the PF have condemned it as politically motivated.
As Kambwili begins his jail term, the ruling sends a clear message: tribalism, hate speech, and inflammatory language have no place in Zambia’s democratic space — and those who violate the law, regardless of their political stature, will be held accountable.
