The news editor of Zambia's largest newspaper went on trial Wednesday on charges of distributing pornographic images. Chansa Kabwela, 29, a news editor at the Post newspaper, distributed the photos of the woman giving birth in the car park outside Lusaka's University Teaching Hospital in June.
The trial commenced with the state prosecutor complaining about comments by Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) carried by the newspaper describing the charges as bogus.
The courtroom was packed to capacity, and so were the court grounds. People were seen waving placards that read, 'Leave The Post, Chansa alone', 'We are returning to the stone age'. A group of artistes wore t-shirts that said 'Zambian artistes are with you Chansa Kabwela, labour is labour not pornography'.
On June 10, Kabwela sent two photographs of the woman giving birth without medical help to the country's vice-president, health minister and rights groups. She said she was highlighting issues in the healthcare system and calling for an end to a nurses' strike.
President Rupiah Banda called the pictures pornographic and demanded a police investigation. Kabwela was arrested on July 13. Kabwela has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a minimum sentence of five years.
The Post is known to be a tough critic of the president, detailing corruption allegations involving the administration on a regular basis. The paper has been targetted with reprisals, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Doctors and nurses at public hospitals in the southern African country were on strike during the month of June over pay disputes. The pregnant woman was turned away from the hospital, despite being in labour and urgently requiring medical attention because the baby was breached. Bystanders tried to assist her but the baby was dead on delivery. The photographs were taken by the woman's husband. The Post did not publish the photographs but sent them to vice-president George Kunda and non-governmental organisations.
