By Antonio Mourinho Mwanza
A HISTORY OF TREASON CASES IN ZAMBIA: FROM UNIP TO UPND
Every regime, from UNIP, MMD, PF and now UPND, has resorted to treason charges against political opponents. But one thing they all forget is that, you can charge people, you can arrest them but you can’t stop what the citizens feel and think about a Government; you cannot arrest dissent.
Ironically, almost all of these cases have collapsed.
One wonders why governments keep taking this route when they know how exceptionally difficult it is to prove treason in a court of law. The intention is clear: to intimidate, silence and politically incapacitate opponents.
But history has repeatedly shown that you can charge people with treason but you cannot so easily silence them!
UNIP REGIME
1. 1974 – Timothy Kalimbwe and three co-accused
* Convicted of treason and sentenced to death in July 1974.
* Kalimbwe was not executed. He remained imprisoned until the 1990 amnesty.
* The individual appeal outcomes of the other co-accused require further verification.
2. 1976–1978 – William Muzala Chipango, Sefulo Kakoma, Crispin Mwendabai and Albert Shishwashwa
* Convicted of treason and sentenced to death in 1976.
* On 4 October 1978, the Supreme Court allowed all four appeals and quashed their convictions and sentences.
3. 1980–1985 – Edward Shamwana and seven co-accused
* The Supreme Court upheld five convictions: Edward Shamwana, Goodwin Mumba, Thomas Mulewa, Deogratias Symba and Albert Chimbalile.
* Three convictions were quashed: Valentine Musakanya, Anderson Mporokoso and Laurent Kanyimbu.
* Four additional co-accused had been acquitted at the original trial.
* Those whose convictions were upheld were subsequently released under the 1990 amnesty.
4. 1988–1990 – Lieutenant-General Christon Tembo, Bizwayo Nkunika, Chongo Shula and Epyrious Mulenga
* Charged over an alleged coup plot.
* Released under President Kenneth Kaunda’s 1990 amnesty.
* The proceedings ended without a final court verdict.
MMD REGIME
5. 1993–1994 – Wezi Kaunda and other UNIP officials
* Prosecuted in connection with the alleged Zero Option Plan.
* Wezi Kaunda was exonerated of the more serious treason charge.
* He was separately convicted of possessing a seditious document and appealed that conviction.
6. 1996 – Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta and seven other UNIP officials
* Charged with treason and murder in connection with the alleged Black Mamba bombings.
* Two had their prosecutions discontinued.
* Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta and the remaining five were acquitted on 1 November 1996.
7. 1997–1998 – Dean Mung’omba and Princess Nakatindi Wina
* Charged in connection with the October 1997 attempted coup.
* The evidence linking them to the alleged coup was ruled inadmissible.
* Both were released on 21 December 1998 after the Government decided not to prosecute.
8. 1998 – Kenneth Kaunda and Moyce Kaulung’ombe
* Charged with concealing knowledge of the October 1997 attempted coup.
* The charges were withdrawn in June 1998 and both were released.
PF REGIME
9. 2017 – Hakainde Hichilema and five UPND members
* Charged with treason following the presidential motorcade incident in Mongu.
* On 16 August 2017, the State discontinued the proceedings and all six were released.
* No treason verdict was delivered.
UPND REGIME
10. 2026 – Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu and 16 co-accused
* Charged with treason following the August 2026 general election.
* Constitutional bail proceedings are ongoing.
* Final verdict: PENDING.
Antonio Mourinho Mwanza
Sunday, 8 November 2026