Amnesty International demands immediate release of Zambian journalist, Zgambo

Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda, has called on Zambian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Thomas Zgambo, who is reportedly being targeted simply for doing his job.

In a statement issued on Saturday in response to Zgambo’s arrest in Lusaka, Chikwanda stated that journalism was not a crime and highlighted that Zambia’s Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression and media freedom.

“Authorities must uphold their constitutional and international human rights obligations and allow journalists to freely carry out their work,” he demanded.

Zgambo, a contributor to the Zambia Whistleblower website, was arrested on October 16, 2024, while dining at a mall and is currently being held at Ridgeway Police Station.

Chikwanda noted that Zgambo had not been officially charged, but his arrest followed the publication of an article perceived as critical of government officials.

Chikwanda pointed out that Zgambo’s arrest comes just days after President Hakainde Hichilema reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom and the promotion of access to information.

He alleged that Zambian authorities had harassed and intimidated Zgambo in previous years.

In August, Zgambo was arrested for two days before being released on bail for sedition after publishing an article calling for government transparency regarding a rental property allegedly linked to President Hichilema.

If convicted, Zgambo faced up to seven years in prison.

Notably, he was arrested twice in 2023 for his critical reporting, and in 2013, he faced sedition charges related to his coverage of then-president Michael Sata.

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