(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 November 1998, police in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, briefly detained the Zambian correspondent for Channel Africa Radio, Mweene Miyanda, after she interviewed one of the 1997 coup suspects currently on trial for treason. Miyanda was picked up at the High Court when she allegedly interviewed opposition Zambia Democratic Congress president Dean […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 November 1998, police in the Zambian capital, Lusaka,
briefly detained the Zambian correspondent for Channel Africa Radio, Mweene
Miyanda, after she interviewed one of the 1997 coup suspects currently on
trial for treason.
Miyanda was picked up at the High Court when she allegedly interviewed
opposition Zambia Democratic Congress president Dean Mung’ombo in the
courtroom. The Zambian Independent Media Association (ZIMA) reports that
Miyanda was held for approximately eight hours at the Lusaka Police Services
headquarters. She told ZIMA that during her confinement she was not allowed
to contact or phone any of her relatives to inform them of her situation.
Miyanda was released with a warning stating: “I’m warning you that next time
you interview a detained person inside a court, you will be charged with
contempt of court.”
