NRPUP OFFICIAL JOSEPH KASEYA, AND 42 OTHERS SUE ATTORNEY GENERAL OVER DETENTION
By Josphat Hamakala
National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity – NRPUP official Joseph Kaseya and 42 others have taken the Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, to the Lusaka High Court, seeking their release from what they describe as unlawful detention at Chelston Police Station.
Mr. Kaseya says his ordeal began on August 14th, when he was returning from the Olympic Africa Totalling Centre after attending to election duties.
He says he was openly wearing his ECZ-accredited election monitor’s identification card and was driving his red Honda Fit, registration CEA 3084 ZM, which he also uses as a taxi.
But according to Mr. Kaseya, his journey changed when a vehicle carrying men dressed in military combat and maroon berets blocked his way.
He says the armed men ordered him at gunpoint to lie on the ground before kicking and beating him despite his compliance.
Mr. Kaseya says the men asked what he was doing, and he explained that he was collecting food for election agents.
He further alleges that the men took his phone, forced him to make calls to several people, including Amai Lamba, and later questioned him about a panga and a pistol they claimed had been found somewhere.
Mr. Kaseya says he denied any knowledge of the weapons but was allegedly beaten again, while K400 he had kept for fuel was taken and has not been recovered.
He says he was eventually detained with 42 others picked up from different places and for different reasons, but none of them has been charged to date.
The group is now before the Lusaka High Court challenging their continued detention, with Mr. Kaseya alleging that they have also been denied bond and were initially denied access to their families and lawyers.
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