Mundubile & Makebi are not ‘political detainees’,let the courts decide whether Mundubile’s treason charges are valid, Govt tells UN

Let the courts decide whether Mundubile’s treason charges are valid, Govt tells UN THE Zambian Government has told the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association to allow the courts to determine whether treason charges against opposition figures are valid Government said the Special Rapporteur went too far […]

Let the courts decide whether Mundubile’s treason charges are valid, Govt tells UN

THE Zambian Government has told the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association to allow the courts to determine whether treason charges against opposition figures are valid

Government said the Special Rapporteur went too far by describing the treason charges against NRPUP losing presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, his running mate Makebi Zulu and 16 others as “concocted”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation explained that such language prejudges criminal proceedings which are already before the courts.

“Whether the evidence establishes an offence is for Zambia’s independent courts to determine through due process, not for an international mandate holder to settle by news release,” Government said.

The Ministry was responding to a statement issued yesterday by Special Rapporteur Gina Romero, who expressed concern over Zambia’s post-election human rights situation and called on authorities to release political detainees.

Government has rejected the description of the detained opposition figures as “political detainees”, saying being a member of an opposition party does not place anyone above the law.

“Membership of an opposition party does not place a person beyond the reach of the law, nor does it convert a criminal suspect into a political detainee,” the Ministry said.

Government has also disputed the Special Rapporteur’s description of treason as a “capital offence”, saying Zambia abolished the death penalty in December 2022.

It said the death penalty was subsequently removed from military law and that Zambia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which seeks the abolition of the death penalty.

“No offence in Zambian law today carries the death penalty. No person charged with treason faces execution,” Government said.

The Ministry further said every person facing criminal proceedings is entitled to the presumption of innocence, legal representation, humane treatment and a fair and public hearing before a competent court.

It said the Government remains committed to ensuring that these rights are respected and that Zambia’s courts are open to testing any concerns about the legal process.

Government said Zambia welcomes scrutiny and remains committed to constructive engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms, but maintained that such engagement must be based on accuracy, objectivity and impartiality.

By George Musonda

Kalemba September 3, 2026