XAVIER CHUNGU'S SEDITION CASE ADJOURNED FOR THE SECOND TIME AS STATE YET TO FILE COMMITTAL CERTIFICATE

 XAVIER CHUNGU'S SEDITION CASE ADJOURNED FOR THE SECOND TIME AS STATE YET TO FILE COMMITTAL CERTIFICATE

By Nelson Zulu

The Lusaka Magistrates Court has for the second time adjourned the matter in which former Zambia Security Intelligence Service Director General Xavier Chungu is facing charges of seditious practices and publication or disclosure of information to unauthorized persons.

The adjournment follows the state's submission before Chief Resident Magistrate Thandose Chabala that the Director of Public Prosecutions-DPP-, Gilbert Phiri, has not yet issued instructions and a certificate of committal to the high court for trial.

Magistrate Chabala adjourned the matter to 22 July 2026, after the prosecution indicated that the necessary instructions and certificate may be issued by then.

Mr. Chungu is facing about 11 counts of seditious practices and publication or disclosure of information to unauthorized persons.

The charges stem from remarks he allegedly made during an interview on That Zed Podcast, which prosecutors contend that the statements involved information he obtained by virtue of his former position as intelligence Director General.

According to the prosecution, the information was disclosed without the written consent of the President or a person authorized to act on the President's behalf, as required under the law governing information acquired through intelligence service duties.

Mr. Chungu has remained in custody since 28 May 2026, after the Subordinate Court declined to grant him bail pending trial on 12 June 2026 on account that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant bail because the Director of Public Prosecutions had issued a certificate denying bail.

In its ruling, the court held that the case falls under section 4(4) of the state security act, which bars the Subordinate Court from admitting the accused to bail, noting that this provision differs from section 4(1) of the same Act, under which the Lusaka High Court previously granted Mr. Chungu bail in a separate matter.

PHOENIX NEWS