Five journalists arrested, further arrests expected

(MISA/IFEX) – On the night of 9 March 1999, police in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, fanned out over the city to arrest journalists from the “Post” newspaper, apparently after an order was issued for them to arrest all “Post” journalists before dawn. The first reporter to be picked up was Bright Phiri at around 9 […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On the night of 9 March 1999, police in the Zambian
capital, Lusaka, fanned out over the city to arrest journalists from the
“Post” newspaper, apparently after an order was issued for them to
arrest all “Post” journalists before dawn.

The first reporter to be picked up was Bright Phiri at around 9 p.m.
(local time). Reporter Kelvin Shimo was later picked up at his Avondale
home just before 11 p.m. by four plainclothes policemen. Shortly
thereafter, reporter Joe Kaunda was picked up at his home in Chilenje
south. The police also went for journalist Amos Malupenga, who managed
to evade them for a short while, but was then arrested at around 6 a.m.
this morning. At around the same time, police picked up fellow reporter
Lubasi Katunda. Latest news from Lusaka was that reporter Goodson
Machona was holed up in his house, which was surrounded by police. There
is no word yet on the whereabouts of “Post” editor-in-chief Fred
M’membe.

The crackdown on the journalists followed an uproar caused in the
National Assembly stemming from the lead story in the “Post” on 9 March.
The story entitled, “Angola Worries Zambia Army, ZAF,” prompted National
Assembly Deputy Speaker Simon Mwila to order Defence Minister Chitalu
Sampa to immediately take appropriate action against the “Post”.

The “Post” reports that Mwila made the directive to Sampa following a
point of order by a fellow member of parliament in which the MP
questioned whether the “Post” was justified to carry a story on the
country’s low military capabilities. Mwila told the House that he was
concerned about the contents of the newspaper article which exhibited a
high level of unpatriotism towards the security of the country. A fellow
MP charged that the article had managed to lay bare the country’s
military secrets by publishing an inventory of the weaponry.

Appeals To

His Excellency President Frederick Chiluba

President of the Republic of Zambia

Fax: +260 1 221939

E-mail: state@zamnet.zm or mfalus@zamnet.zm

The Hon. Newstead Zimba

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services

Phone: 260-1-254487 or 260-1-253486

Fax: +260 1 253456
The Inspector General of Police

Mr Francis Ndhlovu

P.O. Box 50103

Lusaka

Fax: + 260 1 253537
The Zambian representative in your country. In Canada and the United

States, send appeals to:
His Excellemcy Dunstan W. Kamana

High Commissioner

2419 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.

Washington, 20008

U.S.A.

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.