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Citizens First (CF) party President Harry Kalaba has strongly condemned alleged selective application of the law and rising political intolerance under the leadership of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Kalaba stated that it was deeply concerning that the UPND leadership had turned to the courts to challenge duly elected Parliamentary candidates, after previously denying Zambians an opportunity to validate the Presidential electoral outcome.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, Kalaba observed that this contradiction exposed a troubling pattern of expediency over principle and undermined public confidence in the justice system.
Kalaba stated that the CF was alarmed by credible information suggesting a plan to allegedly abduct the duly elected Member of Parliament for Mafinga South, Faith Munthali.
“Recent reports of arrests and prolonged detentions of opposition supporters, some held for up to 14 days without being presented before a court, amount to an abuse of the justice system,” he said.
Kalaba affirmed that these developments lent credence to concerns raised by United Nations Special Rapporteurs regarding the shrinking democratic space in Zambia.
“CF remains a non-violent, democratic movement committed to equity, justice, and the dignity of all citizens,” he said.
Kalaba urged the UPND leadership to end what can only be described as hypocrisy in the application of the law and to uphold one standard of justice for all citizens.
He further called upon civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, and members of the clergy to speak out in defence of constitutional democracy, justice, and national unity.
Kalaba observed that silence in the face of injustice only deepened the crisis.
Meanwhile, Mafinga South newly elected lawmaker Faith Munthali differed with sentiments expressed by former Minister of Home Affairs, Jack Mwiimbu, who suggested that the UN Special Rapporteurs’ report on Zambia was inaccurate.
“The report is accurate, as she herself has suffered these challenges, with three of her team members detained in Mafinga and not having appeared in court,” Munthali said.
She affirmed that there had been selective application of justice, especially against opposing views.
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