Musician set free in defamation case

Zambian authorities today (Monday) dropped the case against a musician who was arrested over a song that lampooned the country's President as a drunken incompetent. A report on the News24 site notes that Chama Fumba said he was not concerned by the case and he vowed to continue composing similar songs. He was arrested last month and charged with conduct likely to breach the peace over the song, which allegedly defamed President Edgar Lungu. At a court hearing today, state prosecutor Like Pumulo said he had instructions from Zambia's chief prosecutor to abandon the case. However, Magistrate Aridah Chulu warned that he could be re-arrested for the same offence, the report states.