Zambian Blogger ‘Elias Musyani’ Sentenced to 6 Months for Online Harassment of Yo Maps and Wife
Published on May 6, 2025 at 3:51 PM by Evance Kapito
Popular Zambian blogger Elias Musyani has been sentenced to six months in prison and fined K70,000 for electronically harassing musician Yo Maps and his wife Kidist Kifle.
Musyani was charged under Section 69 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021, which deals with harassment using electronic communication. Under this law, convicted individuals can face a fine, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The charge stemmed from a post Musyani made on his Facebook page on April 8, 2024, in which he is alleged to have made serious threats against the couple. Prosecutors said he threatened to send thugs to rape Kidist in front of her husband, whom he insulted by calling “dayando,” a derogatory term meaning “skinny.”
He also allegedly threatened to abduct their daughter, whom he referred to as “gumu gumu,” comparing her to an Agama lizard language described in court as degrading and harmful.
Musyani pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the court found that he had a case to answer. When placed on his defence, Musyani chose to remain silent, exercising his constitutional right.
He arrived in court today accompanied by his mother to hear the delivery of the judgment.
The sentencing marks one of the early high-profile convictions under Zambia’s 2021 cybercrime law, sending a strong message about online abuse and harassment.
Source;NKANI
