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The State has opposed a motion to halt criminal proceedings against Christian Democratic Party president, Daniel Pule, who is facing charges of seditious practices.
In an affidavit filed in response to Pule’s request, Senior State Advocate, Patience Musonda Kalisilira from the Attorney General’s chambers argued that there was no valid basis to suspend the case.
Kalisilira stated that Pule’s petition lacked strong prospects of success, emphasizing that civil proceedings cannot be used to interfere with an ongoing criminal trial.
She further asserted that allowing the case to proceed in the subordinate court would not prejudice Pule, as the justice system adheres to established legal procedures.
Pule, however, contended that Zambia’s sedition laws are outdated and have been widely criticised by international human rights bodies, courts, and legal experts for suppressing free speech.
He argued that the charges stem from his criticism of governance issues, which he maintained should be protected under the right to freedom of expression.
According to Pule, prosecuting him sets a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy and political debate in Zambia.
The opposition figure further claimed that Zambia’s sedition laws were vague and overly broad, granting the government excessive discretion in determining what constitutes sedition, which could lead to arbitrary prosecutions aimed at silencing dissent.
Pule pointed to a global trend where at least eight Commonwealth countries had repealed or reformed their sedition laws due to concerns about their misuse.
He argued that Zambia, as one of Africa’s leading democracies, should have abolished these laws at independence, especially since they had remained largely unused until recently.
He further noted that in many countries, sedition laws had been officially declared “obsolete” due to their incompatibility with international human rights standards.
Pule maintained that the law was now being weaponized in Zambia to suppress opposition voices, warning that its continued enforcement could undermine the country’s democratic foundations.
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