IPI Concerned by Zambian Editor's Summons to Police Station
Based on information provided to the International Press Institute (IPI), Fred M'membe, the editor of Zambia's only private newspaper, The Post, was asked to report to police headquarters on 29 June. The request was issued in a police summons.
M'membe's summons follows a series of articles and editorials in The Post attacking the President of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa. Aside from calling on Mwanawasa to resign, The Post has alleged that the president was a liar and dishonest.
Prior to the issue of the summons, on 27 June, George Kunda, Zambia's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, accused The Post of trying to run the country through its editorial page. In a statement, Kunda said, ". . .
we will deal with lawlessness, subversion and attempts aimed at fomenting anarchy in the country."
The claims of The Post relate to a corruption investigation in which Kashiwa Bulaya, a former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, is accused of allegedly redirecting approximately US$600,000 earmarked for anti-retroviral drugs to a company he apparently has a share in.
After an initial investigation into the case by the Task Force on Corruption, a special body set up to tackle corruption in Zambia, the case was discontinued by Caroline Sokoni, the then acting Director of Public Prosecutions, at Kunda's request. Following a public outcry Kunda subsequently reopened the investigation.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
In recent weeks there has been a heated argument over the exact circumstances of the discontinuance (nolle prosequi). On 28 May, the government released a letter to Sokoni, who was later removed from her position, from Kunda stating that Bulaya's case should be discontinued because it was contrary to public policy. Since that time there have been growing calls for the government to release Sokoni's correspondence on the issue.
Speaking about the decision to summon M'membe, IPI Director, Johann P. Fritz said, "It is clear that the government is applying pressure on The Post to change its editorial position on the President and the corruption case involving Bulaya."
"Although they use uncompromising language, the editorials and articles carried in The Post are part of the usual cut and thrust of the daily news cycle and the Zambian government must resist the temptation to apply the rule of law to silence them."
"Every government has an array of different communication tools, including briefings, interviews and government press officers, to ensure that it's own story reaches the public and I would ask the Zambian government that, instead of harassing news editors, it uses these tools in the appropriate manner."
"Any attempt by the government to prosecute M'membe for fomenting anarchy would be met with strong criticism from the international community and such an act would also undermine the credibility and reputation of the government of Zambia," said Fritz.
