EU alerted over Mundubile, Makebi 'torture'

...as lawyers representing the 18 treason accused complain that their clients are being subjected to emotional, psychological and physical torture in the 64 days they have been in prison without trial By BARNABAS ZULU LAWYERS representing treason-accused Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu and 16 others have disclosed that they have alerted the European Union (EU) that the Zambian government has continued to emotionally, psychologically and physically torturing their clients by subjecting them to inhumane treatment in prison. State Counsel Sakwiba Sikota, one of the attorneys representing Mr Mundubile, Mr Makebi and 16 other treason accused says the defence team has since reported the State to the EU about concerns surrounding the country's democratic environment. "You have the European Union coming out with a damning statement about the state of democracy in Zambia. That's why you have the British House of Commons making those statements regarding the state of democracy in Zambia," Mr Sikota said. "That is why you have the UN making those statements about the state of human rights in Zambia. That's why you have things like various international bar associations, legal scholars saying, no, what is happening in Zambia is not right," he said in reference to the deteriorating democratic and civic space in Zambia. Mr Sikota said Zambia needed an honest national conversation about developments that have left the country deeply divided and polarized before after the August acrimonious general election that has since resulted into the jailing of Mr Mundubile, Mr Zulu without being tried by any competent court. He said President Hakainde Hichilema was right when he described the country's political environment as toxic during his address to Parliament but that the head of State was guilty of the state of the nation because he had not moved to unite citizens. "Even the president himself said in his address to the opening of Parliament that the situation in Zambia is toxic. He was right on that. It is toxic," he said. Mr Sikota said Zambia, which was previously regarded as a shining example of democracy in the region, should reflect on the developments that have led to international concern over its human rights and democratic record. Mr Sakwiba Sikota, said Mr Mundubile, Mr Zulu and 16 other treason accused were being subjected to psychological and physical torture through the conditions under which they were being transported to court. Mr Sikota said the accused persons were woken up early and transported for about three hours in uncomfortable vehicles, leaving them exhausted before appearing in court. "You're supposed to be fresh in the courtroom, not that you have little sleep, you've been woken up early, you've been driven three hours in an uncomfortable vehicle. That is not the way you should be appearing in court. You should be appearing in court fresh and well rested," he said. Mr Sikota said the conditions amounted to psychological and physical torture, despite assurances made by the government to the United Nations that the accused persons would be treated humanely and given a speedy trial. "There's a lot of psychological and physical torture that they are having to endure. Yet, these people had promised the UN that they would follow the rule of law and that these people would be looked after in a decent way and that there would be a speedy trial," he said. "None of those promises which the state made to the UN Special Rapporteur have been met," Mr Sikota said. He said the accused persons' treatment, coupled with other developments in the country, risked further damaging the country's international human rights standing. Ends.

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EU alerted over Mundubile, Makebi 'torture'