An intelligence officer working for President Frederick Chiluba has been arrested and charged with providing a newspaper with information, the government-owned “Daily Times” reported on 27 June 1995. According to the “Daily Times”, Weston Haundu, an “intelligence officer” working from State House, appeared in court on 26 June, accused of “conveying information to unauthorised people” […]
An intelligence officer working for President Frederick Chiluba
has been arrested and charged with providing a newspaper with
information, the government-owned “Daily Times” reported on 27
June 1995. According to the “Daily Times”, Weston Haundu, an
“intelligence officer” working from State House, appeared in
court on 26 June, accused of “conveying information to
unauthorised people” – in this case, “The Post” newspaper. The
“Daily Times” reported that Haundu was denied bail because “the
issue borders on the security of the nation”. His case was
referred to the High Court for trial.
It is thought that Haundu is being charged in connection with the
leak of secret documents which reportedly outline plans by
members of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) to
assassinate former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda. Kaunda is
currently making a political comeback and could challenge Chiluba
in next year’s presidential elections.
In its edition of 23 June, “The Post” referred to “secret
intelligence correspondence” — a letter from the Mansa office of
the Zambia Intelligence Security Service (ZISS) dated 29 May 1995
— which revealed that “a National Campaign Committee for the
re-election of President Frederick Chiluba has been formed and is
prepared to assassinate the former president”.
While the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has, as yet,
been unable to identify the law under which Haundu has been
charged, Zambian journalists confirm that it is illegal for civil
servants to provide the media with information without
authorization.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Zambian authorities:
Appeals To
President Frederick Chiluba
State House
Independence Avenue
Lusaka, Zambia
Fax: +260 1 221939
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
