By 
Charles Sinyangwe, the United Party for National Development (UPND) vice-chairperson for administration in Nakonde Constituency, has filed a lawsuit against the State, seeking K3.5 million in compensation for alleged unlawful imprisonment.
In his statement filed in the Lusaka High Court, Sinyangwe is also demanding K500,000 to cover legal fees, alongside damages for emotional and psychological distress.
The case stems from a 2020 incident in which Sinyangwe was accused of involvement in a series of gassing attacks.
He contended that the accusations were baseless, politically motivated, and violated his constitutional rights.
Sinyangwe recounted that his acquaintance, Ginerry Mundi Sichalwe, and a Tanzanian pastor were attacked by villagers near Kaumbwe on Malawi Road, who mistook them for perpetrators of the gassing incidents.
Sichalwe, fearing for his life, called Sinyangwe, who subsequently alerted the Nakonde Police Division Headquarters.
The following day, Sinyangwe was summoned to Nakonde Police Station, where he was interrogated for hours by eight officers.
Despite explaining his non-involvement and clarifying that he acted based on Sichalwe’s report, police allegedly pressured him to confess to organizing the crimes.
Sinyangwe claims he was later forcibly taken to Chinsali along with two others by armed officers and detained without being charged.
He was subsequently transferred to Mambuluma Police Station and held for five days without formal accusations, while his lawyer’s efforts to secure his release were allegedly obstructed.
“The detention and arrest were politically calculated, baseless at law, and completely unlawful,” Sinyangwe stated, alleging that the ordeal was motivated by his affiliation with the UPND.
Sinyangwe, who was eventually released, described his experience as deeply distressing and a blatant abuse of power by law enforcement.
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