(MISA/IFEX) – Eleven journalists, all of who were working for the privately owned “Post” newspaper at the time of their arrest, appeared in the Lusaka High Court on 24 May 2000 in the continuation of their trial for espionage. The eleven accused included “Post” newspapers editor-in-chief Fred M’membe and journalists Joe Kaunda, Douglas Hampande, Reuben […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Eleven journalists, all of who were working for the privately owned “Post” newspaper at the time of their arrest, appeared in the Lusaka High Court on 24 May 2000 in the continuation of their trial for espionage.
The eleven accused included “Post” newspapers editor-in-chief Fred M’membe and journalists Joe Kaunda, Douglas Hampande, Reuben Phiri, Macpherson Muyumba, Brighton Phiri, Lubasi Katundu and Liseli Kayumba. The others, who have since left the newspaper, are Goodson Machona, Kelvin Shimo and Dickson Jere.
The case was adjourned to 19 June at the request of the State advocate to allow him to bring two more witnesses. Judge Elizabeth Muyovwe, who is hearing the case, reluctantly granted the
adjournment, saying she had hoped to conclude hearing evidence at the 24 May hearing.
Background Information
The case dates back to 10 March last year when police began a general swoop against reporters from the newspaper after it published a story a day earlier headlined “Angola worries Zambia Army, ZAF”. The story questioned Zambia’s ability to withstand an attack from Angola at a time when relations between the two countries were soured over persistent press reports alleging that Zambia was aiding rebels from the Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
Six journalists, including Brighton Phiri, Katundu, Shimo, Machona and Kaunda, were initially arrested and detained for two days on possible charges of espionage, but were released by the Lusaka High Court on 12 March when they successfully challenged their detention via a Habeas Corpus hearing. The state’s case collapsed because the arrests were improperly done.
However, on 20 March the state began re-arresting the journalists and charging them with espionage. By the time the case was being transferred to the High Court from the magistrate’s court on 16 April, the total number arrested reached thirteen. Two journalists, Amos Malupenga and Mukalya Nampito, were later released when the state decided to drop the charges against them, leaving only eleven accused.
