A Heartfelt Appeal for Justice, National Reconciliation, and Institutional Reform
Mr President,
I extend warm regards and deep respect as a fellow Zambian who believes deeply in our nation’s promise and in your potential to help fulfil it. Your journey from incarceration to the presidency was not just your personal triumph—it was a testament to Zambia’s belief in change and democratic renewal.
It is in that spirit that I write today, moved not by partisanship but by a profound concern for fairness, unity, and justice in our Republic.
Across Zambia, individuals continue to face imprisonment, exile, or legal intimidation under circumstances widely seen as politically motivated. Among them (ongoing or addressed):
• Nickson Chilangwa, Ronald Chitotela, and Emmanuel Mwamba – facing convictions or restrictions, under what many see as politically driven prosecutions.
• Chilufya Tayali, Charles Chanda, and Emerine Kabanshi – all subjected to intense legal scrutiny despite contested grounds.
• Feminist activists, youth protesters, Chilufya Makasa, and a woman who merely spoke out about the cost of living – criminalized for voicing dissent.
• Munir Zulu, and today, Maureen Mabonga – under legal pursuit for matters that appear entangled with their political views.
• Brebner Changala, a respected civil rights activist, arrested and charged with sedition and espionage after publicly commenting on the alleged abduction of MP Jay Jay Banda.
His case highlights concerns about the suppression of free expression and the targeting of dissenting voices.These situations echo what your own UPND endured in opposition:
• You, Mr President, were once arrested on charges of sedition and treason—charges widely dismissed as political in nature.
• Your party was denied public space, restricted by the Public Order Act, and vilified for assembling or speaking freely.
• Trevor Mwiinde, now a UPND youth leader, was implicated in disturbing scenes of violence during the 2024 Kawambwa by-election—allegedly threatening police and undermining electoral integrity. Although he has denied the allegations, the concern
remains that past patterns of abuse are repeating under new banners.
Yet today, under your leadership, only opposition voices or outspoken critics seem to face imprisonment or aggressive prosecution. Not a single senior official currently in your government—despite credible allegations in some quarters—has been prosecuted and sent to prison. A case in point: the former Minister of Health, who presided over a flawed and controversial procurement process involving healthcare public funds, continues to serve in government. She retains access to state machinery and sensitive data—despite public outcry and calls for accountability. How does this square with our national ideals?
Where is the fairness in justice? Where is the equality before the law? Where is the rule of law that so many Zambians—yourself included—fought for? Mr President, I understand that broad institutional reform may not be politically feasible before the 2026 elections.
However, that reality does not prevent you from leading with moral clarity now. The exercise of discretion, compassion, and balanced governance is entirely within your power.
Sir, therefore, I respectfully urge that you:
a) Direct a transparent review of all politically sensitive prosecutions and detentions—especially where perceived bias exists.
b) Facilitate the safe return of those in exile and guarantee their full freedom and protection.
c) Ensure your own government is not immune to accountability—let the law apply equally to all, regardless of political alignment.
d) Lay the legislative groundwork for post-2026 reforms to ensure independence among the three arms of government.
e) Commit publicly to political tolerance and end retaliatory justice—so that even your critics can safely contribute to our democracy.
Mr President, your presidency still holds the potential to be remembered as a bridge—between the pain of the past and the promise of a more just future. Let history record that you were not only a beneficiary of democracy, but also its protector. I write this not out of personal allegiance or association with any of the individuals mentioned—indeed, I have never met or known any of them personally. My knowledge of their circumstances comes solely through the media and public reports. Each of them can attest to this fact.
With deep hope and unwavering patriotism, please stay blessed Mr President.
Stephen Mpundu Kataya
Zambia Development Party president
PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION AND SEDITION IN EVERY COUNTRY. You’re even asking at where’s the rule of law?? This is the rule of law. In China they just sentenced a politician to death in the past week for similar crimes. You were so used to lawlessness during the 10 years of PF that the actual rule of law looks like persecution. Don’t steal, don’t say things that are considered illegal in the laws of Zambia, then you won’t have to write such letters. Be a law abiding citizen. Chapwa!
So for you Peter Daka, the chap from Northwestern province who said they would circumcise ECL and is not arrested up to now is rule of law. You should have been the first one to loudly call for his arrest of the chap since you seem to know rule of law better
And why has the case of UPND northwestern provinces cadres who alleged murdered PF chairman Jackson Kungo not being heard. This rule of law iliko rather mwe. Has this case ever since it’s day in court. Were perpetrators ever arrested
You don’t arrest because they are arrested in every country
A waste of time as no one will listen
Spend more time trying to improve yourself and area
you have to compete with gifts coming your way soon
True there is blindness to current transgressions, but those incarcerated (RC, MZ, Chlgw, Mbng, … )deserve it. You cannot steal and you cannot say things those people were saying, ati immunity: immunity to say dangerous rubbish. BC, DP should also go in. There is no such a thing as respected civil rights activist. Every body must respect themselves, then they will be respected.
The man is a clown, he will tear Zambia to pieces, please people wake up before it is too late, God help us.
Let us be clear bane. No ordinary Zambian has ever been arrested or intimidated in the course of their law abiding activities. No poltician who has kept to civil politics without insults or peddling falsehoods and false information to alarm the public and create anarchy has ever been arrested in Zambia since 2021. PNo politician who has met the legal requirements for public rally has been arrested.
All the people who are in trouble today HAVE committed crimes and the law has been applied. What we can say however, is that memebrs of the ruling party who have committed similar offences have not been brought to book. THIS is the injustice.
You must be blind and dont read free media. I cant do the research for you but just from a casual look at media in Zambia answer me what did Jason Mwanza do? What law is broken by standing at the Freedom Statue with a poster? HH did exactly the same thing 13 years ago. What did Chanda Chikwanka and family, Suzgo Mbale, do? What crime did Lungu s driver, J Phiri, and Mumbi Phiri commit? Someone right here is asking why UPND killers of Jackson Kungo havent been arrested and you cant answer him.
Ati “No politician bla bla bla…”
Isn’t Raphael Nakachinda a politician? What about Banda now in hiding after being kidnapped by UPND members, Mumbi Phiri, Emmanuel Mwamba who are all being harassed just because they are from the opposition? This is the worst government we have ever had
Stephen Mpkundu is a party president,he’s not a law enforcement officer…so his views are tainted by politics.CASE CLOSED .
Where was this politician/writer when PF was recklessly abusing power with impunity? You gotta hate such people with selective memory/amnesia.
The writer of must be a blue barrister of the group that got baptized in rough caderism, corruption, thievery and other awful practices during the previous government, and crossed over into the new dawn government with the same practices. The writer should just school and counsel his clients to change and start conducting themselves according to the norms and laws of our nation. Otherwise the law SHALL continue following them and will definitely continue complaining unrealistically. Note that during the previous government, caderism was so rough that citizens could not even report thievery, corruption etc for fear of being tortured through the caderism system.