Zambia: Arrested journalist charged, remains in police custody

Freelance journalist, Wilson Pondamali, arrested on suspicion of having links with an online news website, Zambian Watchdog, has been charged with one count of unlawful possession of restricted stores in line with Section 181(1)(5) of the Defence Act Cap. 106 of the Laws of Zambia.

Speaking to the Zambia Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zambia), the journalistÂ’s lawyer, Mulilo Kabesha, confirmed the charge, saying it only came after he [Kabesha] challenged the decision by police to continue hold Pondamali without charge. The charge was laid around 16:00hrs Wednesday, 17 July 2013.

If found guilty, the journalist could be fined a maximum of K540 (approximately US$100) or a face a two-year jail term. Kabesha also said his client could not be released on bail because he was facing two other possible charges which the Zambian police are said to be investigating.

The Zambian Watchdog, an independent news website in Zambia has recently come under consistent attack from government officials as well as ruling Patriotic Front (PF) supporters. The site has suffered distributed denial of service attacks, making it inaccessible to a majority of Zambians. As of Thursday, 18 July 2013, the website could not be accessed on its address (http://www.zambianwatchdog.com/) in parts of Zambia as well as across southern Africa.

Two other journalists, Thomas Zyambo and Clayson Hamasaka have also been arrested by police on suspicion of having links with the news publication. Zyambo is facing a charge of sedition while Hamasaka is being taken in for questioning at various intervals.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 17 July 2013, some PF supporters stormed into Radio Mano offices and set up camp for over five hours, managing to block the entry and appearance on radio of two opposition political party leaders from the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and the National Restoration Party (NAREP) on scheduled programmes.

Radio Mano is located in the largely rural Northern Province of Zambia. The PF leadership in the province has since apologized for the actions of their supporters.

According to Radio Mano assignments editor, Nzala Hangubo, PF Provincial Secretary, Everist Chela, apologized to Radio Mano this morning, Thursday, 18 July 2013. The scheduled interviews were then aired today as a pre-recorded broadcast.