Lawyer demands Munir independent medical check-up
By Tony Nkhoma
LAWYER Joseph Chirwa has written to the Officer-in-Charge at Mwembeshi Maximum Prison demanding that his client, Munir Zulu, be subjected to a thorough and independent medical examination of his choice, rather than having others speak on his behalf.
In the letter dated November 19, Chirwa of Messrs Chirwa and Company, also requested that Zulu be moved to Lusaka Central Correctional Facility, popularly known as Chimbokaila, as his release drews closer.
Chirwa stated that Zulu had experienced a near-death situation and required hospital treatment.
“We have been instructed by our client and his next of kin that you immediately subject our client to a thorough and independent medical examination of his choice for him to be sure that the said Officer In-Charge has not put his threats into action,” Chirwa said
The letter, seen by The Mast and copied to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the Human Rights Commission (HRC), and the Office of the Public Protector, accused the Officer-in-Charge of posing a threat to Zulu’s life.
Chirwa reminded the prison official of a petition filed in the Lusaka High Court under 2025/HP/1367 and alleged that the officer had escalated abusive treatment while disregarding the court case.
“We also put you on notice of our client’s petition in the High Court… Sadly, in your usual fashion, you have contemptuously disregarded the issues raised in the said petition and have escalated your abusive, inhuman, and degrading treatment of our client,” he said.
Chirwa said Zulu continued to face threats, with the latest being that he would be made to “suffer.”
Chirwa also alleged that the officer had denied Zulu family visits.
“In the same vein, the Officer-In-Charge has restricted family members from visiting our client for no reason whatsoever but to perpetuate his intention to harm our client. We are further instructed to request that our client be moved to another facility,” Chirwa wrote.
He urged the HRC, the Office of the Public Protector, and LAZ to act proactively in line with their constitutional mandates.
