June 17 , 2023 - Police formally charged and arrested Emmanuel Mwamba aged 52 and Andy Luchinde aged 29, both residents of Lusaka   for two counts of forgery contrary to Section 342 of the Penal Code Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia and three counts of publication of information contrary to Section 54 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes  Act No. 2 of 2021.

In the counts of forgery, it is alleged that Mr. Mwamba, while acting together with Andy Luchinde and other unknown persons, did forge a document namely 'Presidential Directive Letter,' purporting that the Republican President did direct the Director General of Zambia Security and Intelligence Services to contain the activities of Archbishop Alick Banda. This occurred on June 8, 2023 in Lusaka.

Secondly, it is alleged that on June 8, 2023 Mr. Mwamba, jointly and while acting together with Mr. Luchinde and other unknown persons, did forge a document namely 'Request Letter,' purporting that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security Mr. Joseph Akafumba did request the Secretary to the Cabinet at the Cabinet Office to petition the Vatican through the Apostolic Nuncio in Lusaka regarding the activities of Archbishop Alick Banda.

In the counts of publication of information contrary to Section 54 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes  Act No. 2 of 2021, it is alleged that on June 8, 2023, Mr. Mwamba, jointly and while acting together with Mr. Luchinde and other unknown persons, with intent to compromise the safety and security of the Republican President did publish a letter in the picture purporting to have been signed by the Republican President directing the Director General of the Zambia Security and Intelligence Service to contain the influence of Archbishop Alick Banda over the Roman Catholic Church on Government Institutions and other quasi-government institutions using a computer system on the Facebook pages known as Patriotic Front-PF and Grindstone  Television Zambia.

In a similar count, it is alleged that on June 8, 2023, in Lusaka, Mr. Mwamba, jointly and while acting together with Mr. Luchinde and other unknown persons, with intent to compromise the safety and security of Mr. Akafumba,  did publish a request letter in the picture purporting that Mr. Akafumba wrote a letter to the Secretary to the Cabinet requesting to petition the Vatican through the Apostolic Nuncio in Lusaka regarding the activities of Archbishop Alick Banda, using a computer system on the Facebook pages of the Patriotic Front-PF and Grindstone Television Zambia.

In another charge of publication of information contrary to Section 54 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes  Act No. 2 of 2021, it is alleged that Mr. Mwamba, on June 8, 2023, in Lusaka District, jointly and while acting together with Mr. Luchinde and other unknown persons, with intent to compromise the safety and security of Mr. Batuke Imenda, Mr. Norman Chipakupaku, Mr. Wallace Chakawa, and Mr. Clayson Hamasaka, did publish an email printout purporting that Mr. Wallace Chakawa, Private Secretary-State House, wrote and sent an email to Mr. Clayson Hamasaka, which was forwarded to Mr. Batuke Imenda and Mr. Norman Chipakupaku, directing him to  isolate Archbishop Alick Banda  and EMERITUS Archbishop  Telesphore Mpundu with his organisation called Our Civic Duty Association (OCiDA) and other unknown Catholic church  priests using a computer system on the Facebook pages  known as Patriotic front –PF and the Grindstone Television Zambia.

The suspects  were released on police bond and will appear in court soon.

Godfrey Chilabi
Assistant Public Relations Officer