21-year-old Mufulira student, Mercy Mwakesa, a resident of Ndeke, has been convicted for distributing inappropriate content via trending video on social media after pleading guilty.
Mwakesa appeared before Magistrate Mercy Chabu at the Mufulira Magistrate Court, charged with producing and distributing inappropriate content on social media between May 1 and May 14, 2024.
During her first court appearance on June 4, 2024, she requested bail to continue her education. The court granted a K10,000 cash bail with conditions, including providing two government sureties, not interfering with evidence, and avoiding contact with witnesses. She was unable to meet these conditions and remained in police custody from May 22 to September 12, 2024.
Her second court appearance on June 18, 2024, was postponed pending consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
When the case resumed yesterday, Mwakesa pleaded guilty. Given her age, status as a Grade 11 student, and her remorse, Magistrate Chabu sentenced her to six months in prison or a K4,000 fine, with a deadline to pay by September 13, 2024.
Mwakesa appealed for leniency, stating she had learned a great deal from the proceedings and did not fully understand that her actions were illegal in Zambia.
Source: Mafken FM