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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Zambia reporter in 'porn' trial | Zambia reporter in 'porn' trial |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The news editor of Zambia's largest independent newspaper has gone on trial accused of distributing obscene images. | The news editor of Zambia's largest independent newspaper has gone on trial accused of distributing obscene images. |
| Chansa Kabwela sent two photographs of a woman giving birth without medical help to the country's vice-president, health minister and rights groups. | Chansa Kabwela sent two photographs of a woman giving birth without medical help to the country's vice-president, health minister and rights groups. |
| She says she was highlighting issues in the healthcare system and calling for an end to a nurses' strike. | She says she was highlighting issues in the healthcare system and calling for an end to a nurses' strike. |
| But President Rupiah Band called the pictures pornographic and demanded a police investigation. | But President Rupiah Band called the pictures pornographic and demanded a police investigation. |
| The Post's news editor Ms Kabwela did not publish the controversial photographs, but sent copies to a number of prominent people and women's rights groups, along with a letter calling for the strike to be brought to an end. | |
| The defence is arguing that the case rests on the definition of obscenity and so witnesses should have to describe what counts as obscene and arousing. | |
| The first prosecution witness, the senior private secretary to the vice-president who opened The Post's letter, was roundly embarrassed by having to describe arousal. | |
| Critics of the government | Critics of the government |
| The pictures are graphic. They show a woman in the process of giving birth to a baby in the breech position - when the baby's legs come out first. | |
| Its shoulders, legs and arms are visible, but the head has not yet been delivered. | Its shoulders, legs and arms are visible, but the head has not yet been delivered. |
| The photos were apparently taken in the grounds of Lusaka's main hospital. | The photos were apparently taken in the grounds of Lusaka's main hospital. |
| The nurses were on strike and the woman had been turned away from two clinics. | The nurses were on strike and the woman had been turned away from two clinics. |
| By the time doctors operated, the baby had suffocated. | By the time doctors operated, the baby had suffocated. |
| Ms Kabwela says she was given the photographs by the woman's relatives. | |
| President Banda expressed his outrage at a news conference, calling the photographs pornographic. | President Banda expressed his outrage at a news conference, calling the photographs pornographic. |
| Pornography is illegal in Zambia and Ms Kabwela was arrested soon afterwards and charged with distributing obscene material with intent to corrupt public morals. | Pornography is illegal in Zambia and Ms Kabwela was arrested soon afterwards and charged with distributing obscene material with intent to corrupt public morals. |
| She faces five years in jail. | She faces five years in jail. |
| In her view, and in the view of campaigners for press freedom, the case is political. | In her view, and in the view of campaigners for press freedom, the case is political. |
| The Post - Zambia's most popular newspaper - has relentlessly pursued the government with allegations of corruption and the president has made no secret of his dislike of the paper. |