By Patson Chilemba
Economic Front Party leader Wynter Kabimba says President Hakainde Hichilema must be ashamed to be taking this country 50 years backwards where the country is now rife with arbitrary arrests of opposition politicians.
Speaking with Daily Revelation Newspaper, Kabimba said the culture of arbitrary detentions is dragging the country to the old era one party state.
Commenting on the arrest and detention of PF Information chairperson Emmanuel Mwamba and PF secretary general Raphael Nakachinda for offences of seditious practices, Kabimba said President Hichilema must tell the nation whether or not the country is no longer under democracy.
“What HH must tell this nation is whether or not we are no longer under a democracy and we have gone to a one party state era where this country lived under emergency regulations,” Kabimba said. “Because it was only during that time we saw such rampant and reckless detentions of innocent citizens.”
Kabimba said President Hichilema should not hide under the guise of democracy while he is doing the complete opposite and adulterating the tenets and principles of democracy.
He also said he does not believe that a citizen who calls for a shut down or civil disobedience in a democracy commits an offence of sedition.
“I do not believe that a citizen who calls for a shut down or civil disobedience in a democracy commits an offence of sedition. Protests in a democracy are normal to call civil disobedience in a democracy. It was only during the colonial era when that was an offence leading to the arbitrary arrest of late president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and his group,” Kabimba said. “And I think HH must be ashamed to be taking this country 50 years backwards. We are in democracy and citizens must be given the latitude to express themselves, express themselves and even speak to other citizens that may be as aggrieved as them.”
He said there is nothing wrong the duo has done.
“And therefore, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that Raphael Nakachinda has done. And there is nothing wrong that Mwamba has done, they are exercising their right to express themselves under the Constitution,” said Kabimba.
Yesterday Police in Lusaka arrested and charged Mwamba for allegedly posting on his Facebook Page information likely to disturb public peace.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga stated that Mwamba 52, of Chandwe Musonda Road is charged with the offence of Seditious Practices Contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on November, 2023 in Lusaka, at 07:37 hours at unknown place using a computer system knowingly and without lawful excuse, Mwamba posted or allowed to be posted on a Facebook page under the name of Emmanuel Mwamba a post which is likely to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Zambia and to incite violence or any offence prejudicial to public order or in disturbance of the Public peace.
He stated that the suspect has been detained at Emmasdale police Station and will appear in court soon.
And Hamoonga stated that police recorded a warn and caution statement from Nakachinda 43, of Kafue District for the offence of Seditious Practices contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
According to Hamoonga, brief facts of the matter are that the accused with intent to raise discontent or disaffection among the people of Zambia, caused to be published seditious words in the News Diggers of October 27, 2023 on page five.
“An intention meant to incite citizens to revolt against the government. The utterances are alleged to have been made during a press briefing on October 26, 2023 in Lusaka District of the Republic of Zambia,” stated Hamoonga.
He stated that Nakachinda has also been detained at Emmasdale Police station.
Meanwhile, a warn and caution statement was recorded from PF vice-president Given Lubinda of Hill View Park in Lusaka for failure or refusal to submit or surrender passport.
According to Hamoonga, Lubinda was also cautioned for holding more than one passport, a diplomatic passport or travel document contrary to section 22 of the passport Act number 28 of 2016.
“It is alleged that in …the first count was committed between March 1, 2023 and October 26, 2023 while the second count between March 1, 2023 and November 14, 2023 in Lusaka,” Hamoonga stated.
He stated that the accused has been detained in Police custody at Westwood Police Station.
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