Elias Musyani, accused of issuing threats and defamatory remarks against award-winning artist Elton Mulenga, popularly known as Yo Maps, and his wife Kidist Kifle, failed to appear in court due to illness.
According to his surety, Musyani developed high blood pressure, which prevented him from attending the hearing. The case, presided over by Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya, has been adjourned to January 27 for continued trial.
Musyani faces charges of cyberbullying and hate speech under Zambia’s Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021. He allegedly referred to Kidist as a “prostitute” in a social media post and made threats of rape and abduction against her and the couple’s infant daughter.
Musyani, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, is also accused of threatening to send thugs to harm Kidist.
During a previous court session, Yo Maps testified about the derogatory statements made against his wife. He recounted how he initially attempted to resolve the matter with Musyani, but the accused continued to post defamatory content online.
An audio recording containing the alleged cyberbullying statements is scheduled to be played as evidence during the trial.The case has drawn significant public attention, with many calling for accountability and stricter enforcement of cybercrime laws to protect individuals from online harassment.