Treason detainees deserve justice

…with Muhabi Lungu, the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance member saying it is unjustifiable for the State to condemn those who have been accused of treason to prison without being given an opportunity to appear before court to take plea

By BARNABAS ZULU

THE Tonse PamodziAlliance has made an impassioned appeal to the State that all political detainees incarcerated at various police stations and prisons across the country be brought before the courts to take plea in the name of justice.

Tonse Pamodzi Alliance member Muhabi Lungu says it injustice of the worst kind for suspected who are deemed innocent until proved guilty to remain in detention for weeks without being given an opportunity to appear before a court and understand the charges against them.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mr Lungu said the State should respect the rule of law and ensure that the rights of all accused persons were protected and respected.

Mr Lungu was commenting on reports that some political and treason detainees, including Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu had been transferred to Mukobeko Maximum Prison without having appeared before court for plea.

“I do not believe the story or the communication that the State has communicated to the public about an insurrection, treason and militia. Already, we have seen that people have been arrested now for two weeks without being taken to court. They have not been given a chance to plead in court,” Mr Lungu said.

He said it was his hope and prayer that the State would conduct itself within the confines of the law and ensure that people’s human and legal rights were not infringed upon.

Mr Lungu said some people had now spent about two weeks in detention without appearing before court or being given an opportunity to plead to the charges against them.

He said the situation was particularly concerning because, for most of the two weeks, authorities had allegedly not disclosed the reasons for their detention.

Mr Lungu, who said he had personally experienced detention in a treason-related case decades ago, said the accused persons should be afforded their constitutional rights.

He said even where the charges were serious, including treason, the accused should first be brought before court to take plea before being remanded in prison.

“It is my hope and prayer that on Monday or Tuesday, all of those who have been charged will be brought to court to take plea. In this country, there is still the presumption of innocence, that a person is presumed innocent until proved guilty. In a situation like that, all their due rights have to be shown,” he said.

He said the accused should also benefit from the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Mr Lungu further expressed concern over what he described as attempts to prevent the accused from exercising their legal rights.

“So, for me, I am disappointed that so far these people are in an environment where the State even made everything possible to ensure that their petition is not read in the course of law,” he said.

He added: “This whole thing smells. It actually smells. It stinks.”

Mr Lungu also criticised the police for what he described as threats against people intending to demonstrate, saying citizens should retain their constitutional right to petition.

He said the political situation in the country remained concerning and questioned the legitimacy of the recent electoral outcome.