Lusaka | July 10, 2026 – The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has issued a bench warrant directing the Zambia Police Service to apprehend and produce former Nkana Member of Parliament Binwell Mpundu before the court after he failed to attend scheduled proceedings in a matter in which he is charged with seditious practices.

The order was issued by Magistrate Webster Milumbe, who directed that Mr. Mpundu be brought before the court on July 20, 2026 to explain his absence.

A bench warrant is a court order authorising law enforcement officers to arrest and bring a person before the court after that individual fails to appear as required. It is issued to enforce compliance with court proceedings and to ensure that the administration of justice is not hindered by an unexplained failure to attend court.

The matter has been adjourned to July 20. 2026, when Mr. Mpundu is expected to appear before the court.

Mr. Mpundu is facing one count of seditious practices contrary to Section 57(1)(b), read together with Section 60(1)(i), of the Penal Code. The charge arises from allegations that he published content on social media which the State alleges was seditious.
Since the commencement of the proceedings, the matter has undergone several procedural appearances before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court. Earlier in the proceedings, the case could not proceed after the accused was reported to be unwell. On another occasion, plea was deferred pending the Director of Public Prosecutions’ statutory consent to prosecute the matter.

The case was subsequently reallocated to Magistrate Webster Milumbe, before whom the proceedings have continued.

During the course of the trial, Magistrate Milumbe granted an application by Mr. Mpundu’s legal team to withdraw from representing him after lead defence counsel Leon Lemba informed the court that a conflict had arisen between the instructions given by the accused and counsel’s professional duties to the court, making it impossible for the legal team to continue acting. The court adjourned the matter to allow Mr. Mpundu sufficient time to engage new legal representation.

The matter now returns to court on 20 July 2026, following the issuance of a bench warrant directing that the accused be apprehended and brought before the court after he failed to attend the scheduled proceedings.