Zambia police have arrested five individuals on espionage charges after they accused the government on social media of being involved in the alleged abduction of independent lawmaker Jay Jay Banda last week.
Police spokesperson Danny Mwale confirmed on Thursday in Lusaka the arrests of opposition lawmakers Munir Zulu and Maureen Mubonga, opposition activist Brebner Changala, and opposition party leaders Edith Nawakwi and Danny Pule.
Recently, all suspects were charged with spreading hate speech related to Banda’s alleged abduction, who has since reappeared.
Mwale also stated that Zulu, Mubonga, and Pule have been charged with inciting a tribal conflict.
Espionage charges in Zambia carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison upon conviction, while hate speech charges can result in fines of up to $6,000 and a two-year imprisonment.
Currently, several suspects, represented by lawyer Makebi Zulu, are held in police custody awaiting court appearances. Zulu has condemned the charges as “unacceptable” and is pushing for immediate courtroom hearings.
Political analyst Boniface Cheembe from the University of Zambia has called on leaders from both the ruling United Party for National Development and the opposition to prioritize the well-being of ordinary Zambians.
“As a country, we must step up,” Cheembe emphasized. He stressed the importance of citizens demanding that political leaders address pressing issues such as economic challenges, infrastructure requirements, and service delivery.
Earlier in the week, President Hakainde Hichilema issued a stern warning that individuals inciting hate speech and tribalism to disrupt social harmony would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Thursday’s arrests followed closely on the heels of opposition Patriotic Front Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda’s sentencing to 18 months of hard labor.
Nakachinda’s conviction was based on defunct presidential defamation law, and it stemmed from his accusations in December 2021 that Hichilema had manipulated Zambian judges to secure politically biased judgments.
Human Rights Watch noted that Nakachinda’s sentencing has had a significant chilling effect on freedom of expression in Zambia.
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