State House behind Chungu arrest – Sources
By Mast Reporters
SOURCES have revealed that the arrest of Liberal Democrats Party (LDP) president Xavier Chungu was instigated by State House and President Hakainde Hichilema’s advisors.
Sources close to the ongoing investigations told The Mast that Chungu, a former Zambia Security Intelligence Services (ZSIS) Director General, was regarded as a high-grade threat to the 2026 general election if he was allowed to campaign.
“The problem is that those close to the boss have reviewed Chungu’s file and they are scared of what he can do. In fact, the boss has been informed that he has no chance of winning the August election and allowing Mr Chungu on the ballot and to campaign will kill the remaining hope of the UPND,” the source said.
The source said State House was directly involved in the arrest and continued detention of Chungu.
“You cannot effect such a high-value arrest without State House endorsing it. All we can tell you for now is that it is not about State secrets but political power. Boss knows that ba Chungu has not committed any offence, there is no breach on his part,” the source said.
Efforts to reach State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka proved futile as his phone went unanswered.
Meanwhile, politician Dr Katele Kalumba has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Chungu.
Dr Kalumba said Chungu’s continued detention in police custody was political and a threat to the country’s democracy.
In a statement seen by The Mast, Dr Kalumba said no provision in the constitution or the Zambia Security Intelligence Service Act bans a retired Director-General from running for the presidency.
He argued that once the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) nominates a candidate, that person has a strong presumption of eligibility unless a court rules otherwise.
Dr Kalumba said the State’s push against Chungu’s arrest was not for breaching State secrets but political discussion.
“While retired officers must protect classified information, they do not lose the right to debate governance, corruption and national security. The burden of proof is on the State. If allegations exist that classified information has been unlawfully disclosed, the State bears the burden of identifying the specific information and proving a breach,” Dr Kalumba said.
He described the attempt to charge Chungu with espionage as vague.
Dr Kalumba said charges were all nothing but out of political intimidation by those who feared him.
“No President possesses lawful authority to arbitrarily direct the cancellation of a rival candidate’s nomination outside established legal processes. If there is credible evidence that Mr Xavier Franklin Chungu committed espionage, let that evidence be presented openly before the courts. If such evidence cannot be produced, then he should be allowed to enjoy the same constitutional rights afforded to every duly nominated presidential candidate,” he said.
