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The Zambia Police Service in Mafinga District has arrested and charged Faith Munthali, Member of Parliament for Mafinga South, with two offences.
Muchinga Province Commissioner of Police, Lubinda Mayamba said Munthali had been charged with Being Armed in Public contrary to Section 85 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.
In a statement issued in Chinsali on Saturday, Mayamba said the alleged offences occurred between July 13, 2026 and August 14, 2026 in the Muyombe area of Mafinga District.
He stated that Munthali was allegedly in the company of men purporting to be her security personnel during that period.
“The said individuals allegedly conducted themselves in a military-like manner and were armed with machetes, slashers, cutterpults and golf clubs, thereby causing fear and alarm among members of the public,” Mayamba stated.
He said the lawmaker was jointly charged with Gift Simfukwe, Mishack Singongo and Royd Musumali.
“The three co-accused persons have already appeared before the Isoka Resident Magistrate’s Court, where they took plea,” Mayamba said.
He said trial for all the accused was scheduled to commence on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Munthali is currently detained in police custody and will appear before court in due course.
The arrest comes days after Munthali was sworn in as Member of Parliament following the August 13, 2026 General Elections.
Mayamba issued a warning to political leaders over conduct deemed to threaten public order.
“The Zambia Police Service cautions all political and community leaders against engaging in conduct that may threaten public order, cause fear and alarm, or otherwise undermine the peace and security of members of the public,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe has expressed deep concern over the arrest of Munthali.
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Katebe said the women’s body was alarmed by the incident and what it called a worrying pattern targeting elected opposition leaders.
She acknowledged that law enforcement agencies, particularly the Zambia Police Service, had a lawful mandate to maintain law and order and investigate criminal conduct.
“The pattern we have observed before and after the 2026 General Elections, in which aspiring and elected Members of Parliament, especially those from the opposition, face intimidation, harassment, and alleged targeting is deeply worrisome and inconsistent with Zambia’s democratic and constitutional order,” she stated.
Katebe cited constitutional provisions on due process, noting that suspects must be accorded proper legal procedure.
“The rule of law is a cornerstone of our constitutional democracy. Article 18 of the Constitution, requires that any person suspected of an offence be accorded due process, including the opportunity to appear before police through a lawful call-out, rather than being subjected to extrajudicial or military-style apprehension,” she said.
Katebe said the targeting of Munthali represented a broader threat to women’s participation in politics.
She said the targeting of female political leaders, whether real or alleged, sent a chilling message that discouraged women from contesting and serving in elective office, reversing hard-won gains in women’s political representation.
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