OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER MASSIVE THREAT
….seditious charges and cyber crime are laws being used by the UPND to silence opposition, charges DPP
Lusaka… Thursday September 11, 2025 – The newly launched Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says democracy in the country under the UPND administration is under massive threat.
DPP President Antonio Mourinho Mwanza has accused the UPND government of used laws such as seditious and cyber crime laws to silence the opposing voices.
Mr. Mwanza has called on fellow opposition leaders to continue speaking for the people over the ills of the UPND.
Speaking during the official launch of the DPP in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mwanza accused the ruling party of not allowing state institutions to work freely, professionally and independently.
“We should not be afraid to speak. Democracy under the UPND is under massive threat. Seditious charges, cyber crime, these are laws that have been used by the UPND to silence the opposition. Right now as I am speaking to this nation, they are looking through every word that I speak to, they want to find somewhere where there is hate speech, somewhere where they can charge me with sedition, somewhere where they can use the cyber crime law to pin me down,” he charged.
“We are not afraid, we will speak for this country because it belongs to all of us. The UPND must stop abusing the justice system, using cyber crime laws and using seditious laws to clamp down on opposing voices.”
He said it is difficult at the moment for the opposition to have rallies or even conduct peaceful protests.
“They (UPND) should allow the Zambia Police Service to work independently and as professionals to do their job and allow us from the opposition to to freely mobilize and speak to our people and have rallies. They should allow us to have peaceful protests as provided for in the constitution of Zambia,” he stated.
“We are worried and concerned with the state of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). We believe the ECZ has reduced itself to an appendage of the UPND. We all believe that the ECZ in its current structure cannot produce free and credible election in 2026. The ECZ has the Electoral Process Act Number 35 of 2016, they have the Electoral Commission of Zambia Act of 2018, but it has failed to enforce these Acts to stop the violence on by-elections, to stop the vote buying in by-elections, to stop the abuse of state resources where those in government are using government facilities, vehicles to do their campaigns.”
He urged the ECZ to work professionally and enforce the Electoral laws accordingly.
“The Electoral Commission of Zambia must become professional, enforce the laws equitably and ensure that they provide free, fair and credible elections in 2026,” he added.
Meanwhile, the DPP leader has accused the UPND of failing to fight corruption and shielding some of the ministers involved in corruption.
“We were told that there will be zero tolerance to corruption, today the Auditor Generals Office does an audit and they keep it a secret. Today the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) tells you that they have ministers who they are investigating but they do not have the power nor the courage to name them. ACC has been taken to Community House, it is being housed under State House,” he told Journalists.
“We as Democratic Progressive Party will ensure autonomy and total separation of powers. The ACC, DEC, Zambia Police shall operate professionally under the DPP and independently without any interference from the politicians.”
Mr manyengo we are still waiting for celebration in monze are they still counting some votes in other areas??
What does Antonio know about democracy? He is on record for threatening HH that after the 2021 elections, he would be imprisoned and this time he would die in jail. Antonio also encouraged the late former president not to accept defeat after losing the elections and today he has the audacity to talk about democracy.
This character should never be anywhere near the corridors of power. He is a danger to our nation.
Remember what came from your now democratic mouth just a few years ago? You said and I quote “This time when we arrest him, he will die in prison”. Today you want to champion democracy, my foot.
If we catch Antonio let him rot in jail. Please let Antonio walk his talk. Who can cast a sober vote for these PF thieves? You’re a joke my friend.
This is a fool who threatened the current president in opposition and said he was going to rot in jail for seditious practices ,the same law pf enacted and he is crying today
Mr Mwanza President of DPP, I would firstly be very happy to congratulate you on your successful formation of your party.
Mr Mwanza seditious law has ever been there in Zambia.It has been there even before people started using internet in our country.This has been there before the cyber law in Zambia.It has been in the penal code.Many countries of our world have the seditious law.We must just obey our laws not to inconvenience our selves, it is not about UPND, no it is about the law itself.Just do your politics in an orderly way.Show the people what you got to offer, present your manifesto we read it carefully and some people may understand you.
Just avoid misinformation and falsehoods.It is not right to always blame ECZ and relate it to UPND, such kind of narratives have the potential to cause anarchy in the country particularly on election period.We must all develop some faith in our electoral body.Fighting corruption is everyone’s responsibility you may report any corrupt activity to the rightful authority provided you have proven evidence, corruption may not be as easy to fight as we may think.The names of Ministers being investigated on corruption may not be given or published as it may jeopardize operations of the commission.The ACC does not operate on innuendoes, rumors or falsehoods and suspicions.And there is no selective prosecutions just do your politics prudently.Zambians are looking forward to have a good and powerful opposition.