Police abusing justice system, says M’membe
By George Zulu
DETAINING a citizen for publicly acknowledging and commenting on a summons issued to them is a disgraceful and deeply troubling undertaking, detained People’s Pact Movement presidential candidate Dr Fred M’membe has said.
Dr M’membe was on Tuesday slapped with another new and additional charge under Section 21 of the Cybercrimes Act No. 4 of 2025.
The new charge was prohibition of unlawful disclosure of details of investigation contrary to Section 21 of the Cybercrimes Act no. 4 of 2025 in which it is alleged that upon receipt of a callout relating to a criminal investigation, unlawfully disclosed the details of the investigation in a video circulated on his Facebook page on Sunday.
But Dr M’membe said it was clear that the Zambia Police Service were abusing criminal justice system.
“It exposes the abuse and the state of our criminal justice system, including the broader state of constitutional governance in our country today,” he said.
Dr M’membe said any society that criminalised the exercise of rights and freedoms was a danger to the nation.
He said the use of institutions of governance for repression was hurting and dividing the nation.
“A society that criminalises the exercise of basic rights and freedoms cannot claim to uphold justice and fairness. The monotonous and reckless use of State institutions and law enforcement agencies as instruments of repression dents the rule of law, weakens constitutionalism and erodes the foundations of peaceful and progressive democratic engagement,” Dr M’membe said.
He said his continued detention would not break him or stop calls for change of government in August.
Dr M’membe said Zambia was a multi-party state and democracy would continue to flourish at all cost.
“Like I have said before, it has now been over 30 years since the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in our nation. Throughout this period, we have found ourselves in police and prison cells on numerous occasions because we chose to take principled positions. We chose to stand for justice and speaking the truth to power. We are not strangers to incarceration and at no point in our journey have we feared prison. We have come too far to be intimidated into submission by those who wield power. Our loyalty has always been to this country and its people,” Dr M’membe said.
He said he would not fear President Hakainde Hichilema’s desire to keep him in police cells longer than the law prescribed.
“Any attempts to silence us for speaking the uncomfortable truths that others may be too afraid to voice will not succeed. Neither Mr Hichilema nor those around him will break our spirit. We do not fight for positions. We do not fight for privilege,” he said.
Dr M’membe said he would continue fighting for justice for all even for those that were in support of dictatorship.
“We fight for justice. We fight for a Zambia free from corruption, free from tribalism and governed with integrity and accountability. A second day in police cells means nothing to someone prepared to risk personal comfort for the greater good. For us, the Zambian people will always come first. We are not afraid. We are not intimidated. We will not retreat,” he said.
Dr M’membe encouraged Zambians to remain united and peaceful as they looked forward to liberation in August.
He said his arrest and consequent detention were politically motivated to stop him from mobilising and vengeance for his fight for the burial of former president Edgar Lungu.
“To our supporters and citizens across the country, we urge you to remain peaceful, disciplined and united. Our struggle is not one of violence and hatred, but of courage and conviction. We must continue to organise, speak and demand that dignity, respect and proper closure are afforded to late former president Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his family. We must determinedly defend our democratic space that so many sacrificed to build. Ukuya kwena aleya!,” Dr M’membe said.
