By Revelation Editor
We are now getting to two months since the state arrested main opposition contender in the August 13 general elections Brian Mundubile, his running-mate Makebi Zulu and others aligned with them over treason charges.
The state accused Mundubile and others of being part of a militia that was trying to ascend to power using illegal means. They said they had been conducting investigations since 2023.
The state made the announcement following the raid at one of the properties in Kabulonga, where they said there was a shootout involving security agencies and those aligned with Mundubile. They said that ex-minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was actually killed during the same security operation, although Mundubile has given a different account saying he saw Kafwaya being killed in cold blood by the security agencies.
On the night of the shootings, Mundubile was questioned and released on the same night. Arrests for the others were swiftly made shortly thereafter. Ofcourse Mundubile and Zulu sought refuge with the United Nations in Lusaka, but were later released to be arrested by the police.
However, while the arrests were swiftly made, those who were arrested have been in police custody at Mukobeko Maximum Prison for close to two months now without appearing before court to take plea.
The state says that investigations into the matter are still ongoing. However, why should they arrest people before finalising the investigations in the first place? We would have thought that since this was a matter they had been investigating for a long time that they should have sufficient material to begin prosecuting the accused before the courts of law.
President Hakainde Hichilema has himself directed police before that they should not arrest people before finalising with the investigations. If the state has sufficient grounds against Mundubile and the co-accused they should present them before court immediately so that Zambians can hear about the details of the sins they allegedly committed, and if found liable, pay for the same sins.
On the other hand, if those who have been accused have committed no wrong, then they should be released from custody so that they should enjoy the freedoms they are entitled to as citizens.
We should remove any possibility of there being a nolle for instance as the same does not exonerate those who are accused. It denies them and the state the opportunity for closure on matters as a serious as treason or any other charges.
Present Mundubile and the co-accused before court if the state has sufficient grounds against them. If not then please release the gentlemen and allow them to take corrective measures over their detention.
