SAKWIBA SIKOTA CALLS FOR RELEASE OF MUNDUBILE, ZULU AND 16 OTHERS

SAKWIBA SIKOTA CALLS FOR RELEASE OF MUNDUBILE, ZULU AND 16 OTHERS

By Nelson Zulu

Lawyer representing incarcerated 2026 National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity-NRPUP- Presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, his running mate Makebi Zulu and 16 others has called for their immediate release, citing a lack of evidence against them.

Sakwiba Sikota, who represents the two opposition figures accused of treason and seditious practices, says it is appalling that Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri has disclosed to the media that the accused will only be taken to court once investigations are completed.

Mr. Sikota says the confirmation that investigations are still ongoing more than two weeks after the arrests demonstrates, in his view, that the state arrested the accused before establishing credible evidence against them.

He argues that law enforcement authorities should conduct investigations and establish sufficient evidence before making arrests, adding that keeping suspects in custody while investigations are still underway amounts to an inversion of the proper legal process.

Mr. Sikota has cited the previous detention of 42 NRPUP officials at Chelstone police station, where he says the state failed to file an affidavit in response to a habeas corpus application, resulting in their eventual release after nearly three weeks in custody.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sikota has dismissed reports of suspected poisoning involving some of the detainees, saying his clients are in relatively good health BUT expressed concern over their conditions of detention and alleged that he has repeatedly been denied access to his clients.

PHOENIX NEWS