By Staff Reporter
Police have slapped new charges of espionage and proposing tribal war on civil rights activist Brebner Changala and four opposition political party leaders who were arrested for hate speech and seditious practices early this week.
The opposition leaders include Lumezi member of Parliament Munir Zulu, Mfuwe member of Parliament Maureen Mabonga, FDD leader Edith Nawakwi and Dr. Dan Pule.
This is according to deputy police public relations officer Danny Mwale.
“Police have today, May 30, 2024, given the suspects additional offences of Espionage and Proposing tribal war. Munir Zulu, Maureen Mubonga, Edith Nawakwi and Brebner Changala have all been charged and arrested for Espionage contrary to section 3 (c) of the State Security Act chapter 111, ” read the statement in part.
Mwale also stated that police had also charged and arrested Dr. Pule with the offence of proposing tribal war contrary to the Laws of Zambia and that the suspects remain in Police custody waiting for court appearance.
On Tuesday, Nawakwi’s accusations that the State had abducted Petauke Member of Parliament Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda, earned her detention in police custody.
After the disappearance of Jay Jay, the opposition leader held a live stream where she said it was a dark day for the African Continent and the country that Jay Jay had been abducted.
She said President Hakainde Hichilema was taking the country back to the dark ages when people were disappearing and being killed.
Nawakwi demanded that the State hands back Jay Jay to his family and the country safely.
But these words did not sit well with the police who went to her home and asked her to accompany them to Chelstone Police station.
Nawakwi later joined Lumezi member of Parliament and civil rights activist Brebner Changala in detention for allegedly inciting rebellion against the authority of the State.
On Monday, Zulu and Changala were also detained but on different charges after they commented on the disappearance of Jay Jay.
Zulu had been detained for an alleged offence of hate speech while Changala had been detained for the alleged offence of seditious practices.
The police later detained Mabonga for seditious practices and expressing or showing ridicule for persons because of tribe or place of origin.
Mabonga 40, had been detained on two charges of seditious practices and expressing or showing ridicule or contempt for persons because of tribe or place of origin contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Police stated that the charges followed thorough investigations into actions and statements made by Mabonga that were deemed to incite rebellion against state authorities and promote tribal discrimination and contempt, which threatened national unity and public order.
According to the police Mabonga is still detained in police custody and would appear in court soon to face the charges brought against her.
