More condemn arrest of Zambian investigative journalist, Zgambo

The Southern African Editors Forum (SAEF) has expressed concern over the repeated arrests of investigative journalist, Thomas Zgambo, in Zambia, the latest occurring on October 16, 2024.

Zgambo’s arrest was reportedly linked to allegations of criminal defamation involving a politician affiliated with the ruling UPND and a State House staff member.

SAEF Chairperson, Willie Mponda, in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, highlighted that Zgambo has been arrested multiple times for his journalistic work.

The Media Liaison Committee (MLC), a co-organizer of the 2nd African Media Convention (AMC), revealed that the arrests were allegedly orchestrated by powerful politicians who bypassed the legal process.

“The impression given by the MLC is that certain politicians in the ruling UPND have significant influence, allowing them to order arrests without informing the Head of State,” Mponda stated.

He noted the troubling trend of police officers being used by those in political power to target perceived enemies, suggesting a lack of control by the Inspector General of Police, Graphael Musamba.

Mponda called on President Hakainde Hichilema to honor his commitment to a free press in Zambia, a promise he made upon taking office in August 2022.

“The President must take decisive action, as he did against party members who previously attacked the media,” Mponda emphasized.

He demanded the immediate release of Zgambo, urging President Hichilema to protect the journalist’s reputation both domestically and internationally.

“Journalism is not a crime,” Mponda stressed, supporting the MLC’s stance that individuals aggrieved by journalistic work should pursue civil remedies, not criminal charges.

SAEF also urged African Heads of State, including President Hichilema, to adopt the African Union (AU) principle of media self-regulation as the best approach to handling disputes involving the press.

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