By NAMO PHIRI
IT is undemocratic for Mumbi Phiri to be kept in prison for over eight months without trial in a country that portrays itself as both Christian and democratic, the United National Independence Party (UNIP) has charged.
UNIP National Spokesperson Reverend Andrew Mwima has charged that the government should respect Ms Phiri’s human rights and release her if they do not want or have failed to take her to court for trial.
UNIP has joined the growing voices of those calling for the release of Mumbi Phiri, the former Patriotic Front deputy secretary general who has been incarcerated in Mongu Correctional Facility for 8 months without going to court.
The oldest political party in the country said it is undemocratic for someone to be kept in prison for over eight months without trial by any democratic government.
Rev Mwima said the UPND claimed to be a democratic party and governing the country by the rule of law and yet they have kept Mumbi Phiri in custody for close to a year without taking her to court.
He said the continued imprisonment of Mumbi Phiri and the silence that government has continued to put up on the matter will lead to the conclusion that she is a political prisoner which would be unfortunate, especially with the high integrity that the new dawn government has portrayed to the Zambian people over the last one year.
Rev Mwima said Zambians should not sit back and let such injustice continue going on in a democratic country.
President Hakainde Hichilema during campaigns promised the people of Zambia to uphold the rule of law and ensure speedy trials for people in custody and it is a shame that a year in government and none of that is happening.
He said keeping the former PF deputy secretary general in prison without trial is a sign that the UPND does not govern the people using the rule of law.
Rev Mwima said such an act is not only illegal and undemocratic but is also an infringement on her rights.
He said it is only within the law for every Zambian regardless of their society status and political affiliation to be given trial and Mumbi Phiri is no exception.
UNIP does not approve of the continued imprisonment of Ms Phiri, he said, and her trial should be speeded up if she is not released. And the party National Spokesperson has called for public service reforms in order to help craft a new way of operations in the ruling of the country.
