LAURA MITI QUESTIONS DETENTION OF MUNDUBILE, MAKEBI ZULU, SAYS ZAMBIA’S JUDICIAL HISTORY IS REPEATING ITSELF

LAURA MITI QUESTIONS DETENTION OF MUNDUBILE, MAKEBI ZULU, SAYS ZAMBIA’S JUDICIAL HISTORY IS REPEATING ITSELF.

Governance and human rights advocate Laura Miti has raised concerns over the continued detention of opposition leaders Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, warning that Zambia risks repeating a troubling history of political interference in the justice system.

In a strongly worded reflection, Miti cited several historical incidents in which political power crossed into judicial territory, including the 1997 arrest and detention of former President Kenneth Kaunda, the subsequent stripping of his Zambian citizenship in 1999, and the 2017 arrest of then-UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema on treason charges.

She also recalled the arrest of ZADECO leader Dean Mung’omba following the 1997 coup attempt and the 1993 Zero Option arrests involving former UNIP leaders, including Kebby Musokotwane, Wezi Kaunda and Rupiah Banda.

Miti said she was particularly concerned that the continued detention of Mundubile, Zulu and others, including Bishop Trevor Mwamba, could become another example of the criminal justice system being used in political battles.

She questioned what would happen if the State ultimately failed to produce sufficient evidence to secure convictions, describing such an outcome as a travesty.

“Take people to court for substantive charges or release them,” Miti urged those responsible for decisions in the matter.

She warned that the growing concerns surrounding the detentions were creating an increasingly damaging impression of Zambia’s justice system.
Zambian Watch.