By 
The Mabumba Royal Establishment of the Ushi people in Mansa District, Luapula Province, has joined calls for the release of Liberal Democrats Party leader and former Zambia State Intelligence boss, Xavier Chungu.
Chungu, a Presidential Candidate of the Liberal Democrats Party in the forthcoming August 13, 2026 General Elections, was arrested on May 28, 2026 for alleged multiple offences, including violations of the State Security Act and Penal Code.
The Royal Establishment in a statement issued in Mansa on Monday said Chungu was one of several subjects who were either languishing in prison or held for prolonged periods without trial in police cells.
The Royal Establishment said re-arrest of Chungu after he was granted bail by the High Court raised questions about the legality of the action by the police.
Given that the new charges for which Chungu had been re-arrested attract police bond and bail, the Royal Establishment said it found his prolonged incarceration totally unacceptable and a clear abuse of the criminal justice system.
The Establishment as a result has demanded that the Zambia Police Service either release Chungu on bond or take him to court without any further delay so that he does not start serving a sentence even before he is tried.
“The failure to present an arrested suspect before a court within the strict legal time limit such as the 48-hour rule in Zambia violates the right to personal liberty, the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty, the right to equal protection of the law, and the right to speedy trial within a reasonable time,” the statement read.
The Mabumba Royal Establishment further demanded that the authorities should immediately halt the continued violations of the human rights of citizens, who include subjects from Luapula Province.
Read More: Kazembe Royal Establishment demands immediate release of party leader, Chungu
“It is not lost on us that several of our subjects such as Mr Ronald Chitotela and Mr Nickson Chilangwa are languishing in prison for political offences over which people from other provinces have been left scot-free,” the Establishment noted.
The Royal Establishment also demanded that the authorities should immediately stop the abuse of the criminal justice system to settle political differences.
“Any election in which contestants are either languishing in detention or too afraid to freely campaign due to the threat of violence from ruling party supporters cannot be said to be credible and fair,” the statement read.
The Mabumba Royal Establishment joined the Kazembe Lunda Royal Establishment which had earlier called for the immediate and unconditional release of Chungu, noting with grave concern over his continued detention since his arrest on May 28, 2026.
“This sequence of events creates the unmistakable impression that the grant of bail by the High Court was effectively frustrated, thereby undermining both the spirit and effect of the court’s order and raising legitimate questions regarding adherence to the rule of law and respect for judicial authority,” the statement read.
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