A Lusaka resident magistrate has sentenced Facebook blogger Elias Musyani to six months in prison and fined him K70,000 for cyber harassment involving threats directed at Kidist Kifle, wife of popular musician Elton Mulenga, also known as Yo Maps, and their daughter.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya found Musyani guilty on two counts of harassment using electronic communication, in violation of Section 69 of the Cyber Security and Cybercrimes Act No. 2 of 2021.
The charges stemmed from two Facebook posts made in April 2024, in which Musyani used threatening and offensive language aimed at causing emotional distress and intimidation.
In the first count, on April 8, 2024, Musyani published a derogatory post referencing a private incident involving Kidist and her husband, mocking the couple in a demeaning tone. In the second count, between April 12 and 20, 2024, he made another post threatening physical violence, including abduction, directed at Kidist and her family.
The case, prosecuted by Senior Public Prosecutors Malama Chisenga and Joe Phiri, featured testimony from five witnesses. Following the prosecution’s case, Musyani was found with a case to answer but opted to remain silent in his defense.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mwenya acknowledged that Musyani was a first-time offender but emphasized the seriousness of the offense.
“To deter would-be offenders, the court finds it appropriate to impose a custodial sentence,” she said, sentencing him to six months’ imprisonment and ordering him to pay a fine of K70,000.
The judgment marks a significant application of Zambia’s cybercrime law, highlighting the legal consequences of online threats and abuse.