The Zambian government has appealed to the supreme court to allow the deportation of a British writer who has been accused of defaming President Levy Mwanawasa, an official said on Wednesday.
The government initially ordered that Roy Clarke be deported after he called Mwanawasa ”Mawelewele” or a ‘fool’ in an article for the independent daily the Post two years ago.
However the high court later quashed the order, saying that long-time Zambia resident Clarke was entitled to enjoy freedom of expression.
An official at the supreme court said that the government had now appealed against that verdict and a hearing would take place next week.
”The appeal will be heard by the supreme court on November 21,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
The deputy chief justice David Lewanika will sit alongside two other judges to hear the appeal which is being brought by the country’s solicitor general Sunday Nkonde.
The government will argue that the initial deportation order was issued lawfully and does not breach his rights to freedom of expression.
Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwashya ordered the deportation of Clarke, saying the article he wrote was a ”threat to national peace”.
Clarke is married to a prominent Zambian women rights activist, Sara Longwe. – Sapa-AFP