‘You’ll Pay Heavily’ — Muhabi Warns Government Over Opposition Detentions

‘You’ll Pay Heavily’ — Muhabi Warns Government Over Opposition Detentions We Are One Zambia (WOZA) Secretary General Muhabi Lungu has warned that government will pay a heavy price for the continued detention of opposition leaders held at Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison on…

‘You’ll Pay Heavily’ — Muhabi Warns Government Over Opposition Detentions

We Are One Zambia (WOZA) Secretary General Muhabi Lungu has warned that government will pay a heavy price for the continued detention of opposition leaders held at Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison on treason charges he described as trumped-up.

Speaking on Millennium Radio’s The Interview programme, Lungu said keeping the opposition in custody without trial was unlawful and would cost the nation dearly, both locally and on the international stage.

“Under systems that work, after my illegal detention, I was compensated by the state. All properties I own now are proceeds of that wrongful arrest,” Lungu said.

“My caution is simple. There will be a heavy price to pay for today’s illegal detentions of Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu and others.”

Those held include Mundubile, his running mate Zulu, retired Bishop Trevor Mwamba, lawyer George Chisanga, businessman Harry Valden Findlay, Patrick Mwansa, Davis Chisopa and a dozen others, all facing treason charges that carry no provision for bail.

Lungu said the United Nations and the European Union had both described the charges against the group as concocted. He said the UPND government’s handling of the matter had already dented the nation’s image abroad.

“Government is playing cat and mouse and thinks Zambians are idiots. You cannot incarcerate a person for challenging for a political position. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Lungu recalled his own detention 30 years ago on murder and treason charges. He was arrested at 29, appeared in court the next day, and was acquitted after three and a half months for lack of evidence.

“That is due process,” he said. He added that he was later compensated by the state for the wrongful arrest, and that the properties he owns today are proceeds of that compensation.

Lungu challenged Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha and Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri to take those arrested to court without further delay.

“If you don’t have evidence, release them. The world is watching. You have embarrassed this nation so much. And now we have a leader who is scared to attend the United Nations General Assembly because of the backlash,” he said.

He also challenged Kabesha’s public claim that there was no evidence of malpractice surrounding the disputed presidential vote.

“Let Kabesha deny that Mundubile was abducted and released on 14 August. Let him deny that his friend Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot twice. The state first denied it, then admitted killing him only after his wife sought habeas corpus,” he said.

He questioned the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) over why it stopped counting for six hours after polling day, and why the courts were shut down at a critical moment, preventing the opposition from challenging the results.

“This is a very strange government with strange people leading us. First you investigate, gather evidence, then arrest. Don’t arrest first and probe later. Even a first-year law student knows this,” Lungu said.

He praised founding president Kenneth Kaunda for pardoning coup suspects Edward Shamwana and Christon Tembo without waiting for the courts to conclude their processes.

Lungu said Mundubile, Zulu, Bishop Mwamba and the others in custody remained in high spirits because they knew they were innocent.

“They are not militia. Take them to court or free them,” he said.The detainees have yet to be formally arraigned on the treason charges.