A High Court ruling in Zambia has sent shockwaves through the country’s political landscape, upholding the conviction of politician Raphael Nakacinda and leading to his imprisonment. Outside the High Court, Nakacinda struck a defiant tone, declaring, “I am privileged today to go to prison for speaking for the Zambian people,” while alleging persecution under a repealed defamation law. His supporters viewed this stance as an act of martyrdom, but the judiciary saw it as a clear demonstration of justice being served.

Judge Anne Malata-Ononuju decisively dismissed Nakacinda’s appeal, stating that his initial remarks showed “a deliberate intent to harm.” The court emphasized that Nakacinda’s allegations of President Hakainde Hichilema coercing judges to subvert democracy constituted an attack on judicial independence, not legitimate political criticism. Judge Malata-Ononuju underscored that “such statements erode public trust in the judiciary and cannot be protected as legitimate speech.”

Nakacinda’s conviction stems from comments made in 2021, when he claimed President Hichilema was summoning judges to his private residence to obstruct cases involving the Patriotic Front (PF) party. These unsubstantiated claims have now led to one of the most significant political imprisonments since the United Party for National Development (UPND) assumed power.

The ruling sparked strong reactions within the PF. Given Lubinda, the PF acting president, displayed visible distress at the High Court, standing in solidarity with Nakacinda. Lubinda later told supporters that the ruling signified “a coordinated effort to silence PF voices” and warned, “The President is coming for everyone.”

However, the narrative of political persecution is reportedly losing traction, even within the PF’s ranks. Some party critics argue that convictions of prominent PF figures, such as Bowman Lusambo and Chishimba Kambwili, stem from arrogance and impunity rather than ideological differences. These critics note that the courts are now enforcing laws originally passed by the PF itself, which the party now protests.

Nakacinda’s imprisonment means he will serve his sentence through the upcoming election year, marking a significant political and symbolic setback for the PF. The party, already struggling to regain moral authority and public trust, faces a critical question: how long can defiance sustain itself when profound reform is the most pressing need?