{MISA Zambia expresses its grave concern at the arrest and detention of Daily Nation Newspaper proprietor Richard Sakala, Production editor Simon Mwanza and FODEP Executive director MacDonald Chipenzi over an article that appeared in the Newspaper on Monday.}
The offence of publishing false information likely to cause public alarm and despondency in the country contrary to section 67 subsections (i) and (ii) of the penal code cap 87 of the laws of Zambia that Sakala, Mwanza and Chipenzi have been framed with is not only draconian and archaic but retrogressive, colonial and an affront to media freedoms
As MISA, we note that the Daily Nation published the information regarding the secret recruitment from a source and this would not warrant their persecution.
We demand the release of the journalists and that the charges leveled against them be dropped because this we feel this is a threat to Zambia’s democracy, curb freedom of expression and gag the media.
Zambia police should have refuted this claim instead of harassing the media personnel who are supposed to provide checks and balances to the ruling Patriotic Front government.
We appeal to all well- meaning Zambians to rise up and denounce the barbaric and draconian action and therefore challenge government to state its position on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in the country.
MISA Zambia
Acting Chairperson
Hellen Mwale
12 December 2013
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