Security operative tells court how female blogger, Edwards, was arrested for allegedly trolling President Hichilema

A security operative has told Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that he had merely been assigned to apprehend a United States–based Zambian, Ethel Chisono Edwards, admitting he had no prior knowledge of her and had never personally seen the alleged offensive posts that led to her prosecution.

Edwards, far from the fiery online persona she is accused of portraying, pleaded not guilty to charges of hate speech and sedition stemming from alleged insults directed at President Hakainde Hichilema and the Zambia Police.

The State alleges that Edwards, who resides in the United States, used Facebook accounts including “Dominic Phiri” and “Zambia Top Updates” to publish derogatory remarks between 2023 and 2025. She took her plea before Lusaka Resident Magistrate Webster Milumbe.

During the hearing, security operative, Constable Oscar Tembo gave a brief but telling account of his role in the case.

He testified that on September 12, 2025, he was informed that a suspect arriving aboard a Qatar Airways flight was wanted at Police headquarters for “various offences.”
“I was assigned, together with another officer, to proceed to international arrivals. An informer identified the suspect to us,” Tembo told the court.

“We introduced ourselves as police officers and apprehended her before officers from headquarters took over.”

Under cross-examination, Tembo conceded that he had neither seen Edwards before nor viewed the posts she is accused of publishing.

“I didn’t know Ethel before I arrested her,” he said. “I haven’t seen her insulting the President because I don’t know her. My duty was only to detain the suspect.”

Earlier, indications emerged that plea bargain discussions had taken place, although no agreement was concluded.

Edwards is charged under Section 65 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021, which criminalises hate speech disseminated through a computer system.

The matter has been adjourned to December 2, 2025, for continuation of the trial.

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