he Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has granted bail to incarcerated Patriotic Front (PF) faction Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda in the sum of K20,000 cash, plus two working sureties from Lusaka in their own recognizance.
The ruling came on January 13, 2026, following Nakacinda’s application for bail pending appeal against his six-month sentence with hard labour. Magistrate Idah Phiri Mupemo (or the presiding magistrate) approved the release after hearing arguments on the matter.
Nakacinda was convicted in December 2025 for expressing hatred, ridicule, or contempt for persons because of tribe or place of origin, contrary to Section 70 of the Penal Code. The charge stems from his alleged use of the Bemba word “ubututu” (translated as “ignorance” or “foolishness”) in reference to President Hakainde Hichilema, which prosecutors argued had tribal connotations targeting the Tonga-speaking community of Bweengwa (Southern Province), where the President hails from.
The six-month term is set to run concurrently with Nakacinda’s existing 18-month imprisonment for defaming the President (a separate 2024 conviction related to claims about judicial influence).
This latest bail decision allows Nakacinda provisional release while his appeal process continues, amid ongoing political tensions within the PF and ahead of the 2026 general elections. The court imposed standard conditions to ensure compliance.
By Josphat Hamakala
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