The United Kwacha Alliance has described the arrest of Nkana Member of Parliament, Binwell Mpundu, for seditious practices, as a ploy to suppress dissent, silence criticism, and intimidate opposition leaders.
Yesterday, the Nkana lawmaker was arrested for seditious practices and is currently detained at Lusaka’s Woodlands police station.
But UKA Chairperson Communications Jackson Silavwe says the arrest of the parliamentarian is troubling as it raises serious questions about the state of democratic freedoms under President Hakainde Hichilema’s regime.
“Sedition laws, while necessary in curbing violence and ensuring public order, must never be used as a tool to suppress dissent, silence criticism, or intimidate elected representatives,” said Mr. Silavwe in an statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
He has therefore condemned the arrest and called on the relevant authorities to uphold the principles of justice and the rule of law.
Mr. Silavwe said that the selective application of seditious laws undermines public confidence in the fairness of our judicial processes and tarnishes Zambia’s democratic reputation on the global stage.
Angel Kasabo
