Mwamba alleges govt intention to force him into exile, vows to return to Zambia despite reported threat to life

Former Zambian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba, has denied police allegations that he was seeking asylum in the United States, insisting that he will return home despite threats of arrest and alleged dangers to his life.

Zambia Police had accused Mwamba of attempting to manipulate their responses to his social media posts to support an asylum claim in the U.S.

However, Mwamba dismissed the claims, stating that human rights abuses and disregard for the law by Zambian authorities had been widely documented by international organizations.

“The international organizations include the U.S. Country Report, the UNHCR Experts Report, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other credible reports,” Mwamba said.

He reiterated his plans to return to Zambia, despite what he described as numerous police threats and reported calls from some ruling UPND members for him to be tackled.

Mwamba questioned why law enforcement officers had not pursued individuals who had publicly issued threats against him.

“By this statement from Zambia Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, it appears to be the government’s official intention to force me into exile, arrest me on trumped-up charges upon arrival, or ultimately eliminate me,” he claimed.

Since joining politics in 2022, Mwamba said he had been committed to driving positive change in Zambia.

He revealed that he had paid K200,000 in nomination fees to participate in the Patriotic Front (PF) primary elections for the party’s presidential candidate selection.

Read More: Zambia police accuse ex-diplomat, Mwamba, of manipulating law enforcement responses for U.S. asylum bid

“I submitted my name because of my local and international experience in Zambia’s development agenda. I had hoped that our members would consider my candidacy for party leadership and as a presidential candidate,” he stated.

Mwamba further alleged that he has faced harassment, brutality, and multiple arrests at the hands of the Zambia Police since entering politics.

He argued that recent threats against him, rather than forcing him to seek asylum, only reinforced his determination to return and continue his political journey.

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