SOLDIER CHALLENGES DETENTION

Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:53:31 +0000

By Chikumbi Katebe

A ZAMBIA Army serviceman arrested over alleged seditious material posted on his internet blog has challenged his continued detention against his freedom of association enshrined in the Republican Constitution.

Staff Sergeant Innocent Sitali of plot D944 in Kabwe says he was arrested on 31st July, 2017 without charge and that his continued detention was illegal and unlawful and in contravention of his rights.

Sitali explained that police have questioned him and that a warn and caution statement has since been recorded for an offence relating to seditious practices but that he has not yet been charged.

He submitted that he was being unjustly treated and unfairly prejudiced with prolonged detention without cause.

“That I am a serving military person and holding the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Zambia Army and stationed at 2 infantry Brigade HQ, Kabwe.

“That there is no apparent justification for my detention and neither have I been shown any document or told under whose authority or at whose pleasure I am being detained. I have been unfairly treated and unfairly prejudiced by the arbitrary and prolonged detention without cause,” he said.

He has since requested the court to grant him bail pending inter parte hearing for his harbeas corpus application.

Mr Sitali explained that the indefinite detention has put his job and family at a great disadvantage and fears he would lose his job.

He charged that even his lawyers have failed to secure his release despite him having not been formally charged yet, even after writing to the Inspector General of Police from whom they have not received a response.

Mr Sitali has since denied ever engaging in any seditious activities as alleged by the police, more so to warrant his prolonged detention.