Mzuzu Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has convicted Karonga- based self-acclaimed rights activist Lyton Mangochi, real name Lyton Yusufu, on five counts bordering on prohibition of offensive communication.
Mangochi has been convicted on four counts of prohibition of offensive communication against Section 87 of the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act and one count of prohibition of cyber stalking, contrary to Section 88 of the same Act.
He was being accused willfully and repeatedly using electronic communication, notably WhatsApp video clip, to disturb the peace and quietness of National Registration Bureau director general Mphatso Sambo and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chief elections officer Davie Mpesi.
Mangochi was also accused of harassing MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja by threatening to close her office through unspecific demonstrations with intent to instill reasonable fear for her safety.
Mangochi, was also accused of disturbing the peace and quietness of Minister of Local Government, National Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda by calling him “foolish” and “a small person”, but also Minister of Information and Digitilisation Moses Kunkuyu by referring to him as “chitselekwete and a number one wizard”.
In his ruling, senior resident magistrate Ashford Haraŵa said referring to someone as a useless goat incapable of conducting an election despite being a personal attack, goes even to the profession.
He said using videos to refer to Mtalimanja, a jusge of the High Court of Malawi, as ‘chiwanda cha nkhondo (an evil spirit and warmonger]’ incapable of conducting an election, in the cultural context of Malawi, is an insult.
Lawyer for Mangochi, Christon Ghambi immediately applied for bail after the conviction, which was immediately granted.
He said that while his client may have flouted the law, there was not enough evidence for conviction.
Mangochi came in the limelight in 2023 after Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers smoked him out of his house in Karonga and was charged with publication of false news likely to cause fear and alarm to the public contrary to Section 60(1) of the Penal Code.
He comes from Mtalimanja Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi District
