Lumezi member of parliament, Zulu, arrested after presidency warned of his alleged seditious statements

Lumezi Independent Member of Parliament, Munir Zulu, has been arrested and charged with the offense of uttering seditious statements.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale, said Zulu, aged 35, of Olympia Extension in Lusaka had been arrested and charged for contravening section 57 (1) (b) as read together with section 60 (1) (e) of the Laws of Zambia.

Mwale said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday.

“It alleged that the suspect on September 7, 2023 at Ibex Hill Police station did utter seditious words saying that the Republican President will dissolve Parliament on Friday, September 8, 2023 and that he will be calling for early elections,” he said.

Mwale said the suspect was alleged to have incited Zambians to start getting ready for campaigns after the Republican President dissolved Parliament.

He said the words had raised discomfort and disaffection among the people of Zambia.

“The suspect has been detained in Police custody waiting for court appearance,” Mwale said.

Zambia Monitor had reported last Thursday how the State House had warned Lumezi Independent Member of Parliament, Munir Zulu, against misinforming the public and propagating falsehood.

Last week Wednesday, Zulu claimed that President Hakainde Hichilema would dissolve Parliament to pave way for fresh elections and that the country would be in a campaign mood for three months.

Responding to the claim, State House Chief Communications Specialist, Clayson Hamasaka, said the law was explicit and no one should cry persecution when facing the consequences of such irresponsible behaviour.

Hamasaka said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday.

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