By Binwell Mpundu
WITHOUT LAWS WE ARE NOT BETTER THAN ANIMALS.
Contempt of Court: Police Defy High Court Habeas Order, Re-Arrest Esther Mwitumwa in Dramatic Scenes.
LUSAKA — Questions have been raised over the rule of law and police accountability following an incident where Zambia Police officers allegedly defied a High Court order for the immediate release of Esther Mwitumwa.
Esther was initially detained last week by officer Harrington Akushanga and booked on a charge of treason. According to legal representatives, she was held unlawfully without being formally warned and cautioned.
The legal battle reached a milestone when the High Court of Zambia, presided over by Judge G.C. Mulenga, awarded a writ of habeas corpus and ordered her immediate release
However, in dramatic scenes outside the legal framework, Akushanga—acting alongside an officer named Kapasa and other personnel—allegedly flouted the court order. Eyewitnesses report that the officers forcefully grabbed Ms. Mwitumwa, threw her into a police van, and sped off to an undisclosed location, leaving both her legal counsel and her family in the dark about her safety and whereabouts.
Family members and human rights observers have condemned the operation, calling it a dangerous subversion of judicial authority and a direct violation of constitutional safeguards.
Calls have since been made for the Inspector General of Police to intervene immediately, account for Ms. Mwitumwa’s safety, and hold the defiant officers accountable for contempt of court.
NOTE
They screamed Rule of Law but they no longer have respect for our laws.
Today they are keeping people in Jail cells without committing those suspects to court. Now they have even started ignoring court rullings,as if closing the courts to stop a presidential petition was not enough.
At this stage,without laws or the blatant disregard for the our laws makes us no better than animals.
Binwell, your conduct raises serious concerns about respect for the rule of law and the direction in which the country is being led. Public pronouncements alone cannot obscure actions that undermine democratic norms, accountability, and responsible leadership. What the nation needs now is humility, self-reflection, and a genuine commitment to restoring confidence in its institutions.Citizens, too, have a responsibility to think critically rather than follow political leaders unquestioningly. When loyalty replaces independent judgment and accountability, the consequences can be dangerous. The country deserves leadership that strengthens institutions, respects the rule of law, and places the national interest above political allegiance.
Icha baiche is really icha baiche – pathetic!