Two opposition leaders have added their voices to growing calls for the release of political detainees, as families of those held continue to wait for news from behind bars.
Zambia Republican Party president Wright Musoma has written personally to President Hakainde Hichilema, appealing for the unconditional release of all those detained for political reasons. He said the gesture would be remembered as the most meaningful achievement of the President’s second term in office.
In his letter, Musoma named several individuals he considers political detainees, among them former Pambashe MP Ronald Chitotela, former Kawambwa MP Nickson Chilangwa, former Patriotic Front Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda, former Kabushi MP Bowman Lusambo, and opposition leader Brian Mundubile together with his running mate Makebi Zulu.
“Behind every prisoner is a mother waiting, children asking questions, and a home that has gone quiet. No Zambian should suffer or die in detention simply because they hold opposing views from those holding power,” he said. Musoma, who belongs to the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance, added that the country remained divided in the aftermath of the general election and that releasing the detainees would go a long way in bringing healing to a nation still finding its footing after a tense campaign season.
He pointed out that his appeal was not made in isolation, noting that churches, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and international bodies had already raised similar concerns with the Presidency.
Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba also spoke out, but from a different angle, questioning why the courts were closed during the period Zambians might have wanted to challenge the presidential result, yet the same courts have since been used to hear petitions against opposition MPs who won their seats.
Kalaba further raised alarm over reports that some opposition supporters had spent as long as 14 days in custody without being taken before a court, something he said pointed to a worrying pattern. “Such actions amount to an abuse of the justice system and point to a dangerous trend of its weaponisation. This must come to an immediate end,” he said, calling for the safety of all elected leaders to be guaranteed regardless of which party they belong to.
The detained opposition figures are facing treason charges that followed a military raid in Kabulonga last month. The matter has continued to attract attention from various quarters, with families of those affected saying they simply want their loved ones back home.
Whether the Presidency responds to these latest appeals remains to be seen, but both Musoma and Kalaba say they hope the coming weeks bring some form of resolution for the detainees and their families.