UK satirist wins Zambia court case

Clarke said he was enjoying freedom of expression

A British writer has won a legal challenge against his deportation from Zambia for allegedly insulting the president.

Roy Clarke had compared President Levy Mwanawasa to a "foolish elephant" in a satirical newspaper column.

The High Court in Zambia has revoked the deportation order issued by the home affairs minister.

Judge Philip Musonda said the order was unconstitutional and that the author has a right to write satirical stories.

Zambian Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha had originally given Mr Clarke 24 hours to leave the country.

Resign

Mr Clarke is married to a Zambian women's rights activist and has permanent residency.

"The deportation is quashed for violating the constitution for procedural impropriety and for being unreasonable," said Mr Musonda.

Insulting President Mwanawasa means insulting the Zambia people

Prosecutors have vowed to appeal against the High Court ruling at the Supreme Court.

Scores of Mr Clarke's supporters chanted victory slogans outside the courtroom after the court ruling.

"It is a fair judgment and the minister of home affairs must resign," said a jubilant Mr Clarke.

Mr Shikapwasha has said they were not seeking to deport Mr Clarke vindictively but because it was wrong for him to insult the people of Zambia by referring to the president and government ministers as animals.

Mr Clarke could still be deported if another court finds him guilty of assaulting a policeman in an unrelated case.

In Zambia, foreigners with a permanent residency can be deported if convicted of a crime.