By Mubanga Mubanga
Zambian Institute of Independent Media Alliance (ZIIMA) consultant Wilson Pondamali says the detention of journalist Thomas Zgambo for two weeks without taking him to court, has proved that President Hakainde Hichilema was just ‘sugar coating’ his pronouncements when he directed the Zambia Police to take suspects to court within 48 hours of arresting them.
Zgambo was arrested two weeks ago and kept in custody without being taken to court, until yesterday when he was granted bail.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Revelation, Pondamali said either President Hichilema was lying or just sugar coating things when he directed the police to take suspects to court within 48 hours of arresting them.
He said it was lawlessness on the part of Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba and disrespectful of the Head of State to keep Zgambo behind bars for more than was necessary without taking him to court or giving him bond.
He said such actions exposed the President to be more of a liar.
“The Inspector General is an appointee of the President, so if the Inspector General is disrespectful to the President, the appointing authority, the buck ends at the President the appointing authority. So if his appointees are disrespectful to him, he has to fire them,” Pondamali said. “Besides, the President is the Commander-in-Chief, so absolutely he reports directly to the President. Even the transgressions he is doing he is reporting them to the President.”
Pondamali described the UPND administration’s performance on press freedom as a disaster.
“It is a disaster, because freedom of expression does not only mean closing down radio stations and TV stations. There are many ways non-state actors, who will come in and frustrate the radio station, the TV station as it has said, sources have refused to appeal on radio station,” said Pondamali
