Police summons to Chabinga

By Daily Revelation Editor

Police on Wednesday this week summoned Mafinga member of parliament Robert Chabinga, stating that they had opened an inquiry file following a report made by Chilubi member of parliament Mulenga Fube.

Fube reported that Chabinga did propose violence by allegedly issuing threats aimed at Zambia’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba and former University of Zambia lecturer Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, during an online live broadcast on Kalemba media platform on July 20, 2025.

Zambia police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga concluded the statement by reiterating police’s commitment to upholding public order and ensuring that political discourse remains peaceful, respectful and within the confines of the law.

Those who have had the privilege of listening to Chabinga will realise that the threats he was issuing were not isolated, nor his penchant for controversy. He had previously issued threats, including boasting about ‘liquidation’, which attracted backlash from the media.

During this recent broadcast he threatened to unleash mayhem and dish out beatings after the burial of the late former president Edgar Lungu, telling the police to step aside. He boasted that when the beatings happen the police should not even guess who will have committed the same, pointing the finger towards himself.

Chabinga called the press briefing following the release of an audio he has said was AI, which was speaking in Bemba and chewing at the same time. The leaked audio from a phone conversation, the Chabinga-sound-alike was heard chatting with the Community Development minister Doreen Mwamba-sound-alike, revealing the behind the scenes plotting to secure Lungu’s remains, including bribery, and organising paid for protests in Zambia, all aimed at influencing the decision of the judge handling the Lungu repatriation case. Dr Sishuwa had earlier written an article speaking to the matters that were the topic of discussion in the ‘AI’ audio. The article was followed by the actual audio leak by Mwamba.

Those who have heard Chabinga speak won’t necessarily be at pains to establish the confidence he exudes. He speaks and carries himself like someone who has a higher backing behind him.

It is therefore interesting that police have summoned him, but more importantly it will be of interest to see if there will be any movement on the matter. The experience in this country, including under this UPND administration, is that law enforcement agencies rarely proceed beyond announcing summons or investigations of those who are in power and their allies.

The case in point is the announcement by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that they were investigating several ministers and senior government officials, which announcement has never seen any movement since it was made public over a year ago. We therefore, hope that the summons issued to Chabinga by the police will materialise into something. If a prima facie case is established against him, he should quickly be arrested and prosecuted, and if he won’t be found with any chargeable offences that too must be quickly announced.

Zambians are hopeful that there will be no dilly-dallying on the matter. They hope the police will move on it like the speed of light in the same manner as the law enforcement agencies have moved on the sedition cases involving the late Edith Nawakwi, Maureen Mabonga and others. That they will move speedily like they did on cases involving Ronald Chitotela, Nickson Chilangwa, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Chishimba Kambwili, among others.

People are watching!