Mwila Demands Evidence for Continued Detention of Mundubile, Makebi

Mwila demands evidence over continued detention of Mundubile and Makebi BM8-ECL Movement National Chairperson Davies Mwila has questioned the continued detention of Tonse Alliance president Brian Mundubile, opposition politician Makebi Zulu and other suspects, saying the arrests appear to be politically motivated and calling on the government to provide clear evidence to justify their continued detention. Lusaka, 5 September Mwila said the prolonged detention of Mundubile and Zulu was a matter of serious concern and urged authorities to ensure that the rights of those in custody were respected and that any allegations against them were subjected to due process. Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, Mwila said the BM8-ECL Movement was particularly concerned about the political situation in the country and the circumstances surrounding the death of Honourable Kafwaya, which he said required an independent and transparent investigation. “The BM8 ECL Movement is deeply concerned about the current political situation in our country and, in particular, the continued detention of president Brian Mundubile, Honourable Makebi Zulu and 18 others,” Mwila said. He called for an independent inquiry into Kafwaya’s death, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the incident deserved proper investigation and that the public and the bereaved family were entitled to answers. “The circumstances surrounding his death deserve proper investigation, and the Zambian people and, most importantly, the bereaved family deserve answers. We cannot build a peaceful and democratic nation by ignoring serious questions surrounding the loss of human life,” he said. Mwila also called for the immediate release of Mundubile, Zulu and the other detainees unless authorities could demonstrate lawful and credible grounds for keeping them in custody. “Our position is that their continued detention appears to be politically motivated, and government must provide clear, credible and verifiable evidence to justify such action,” he said. He warned that using political differences as a basis for persecution could further deepen divisions in the country, arguing that Zambia needed reconciliation and dialogue rather than confrontation. “What is happening today is deepening divisions and creating resentment among our people. This is not the Zambia we want to leave for future generations,” Mwila said. He further appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema and the government to exercise what he described as statesmanship by choosing reconciliation over confrontation. “You may force a person into silence, but you cannot force conviction out of their heart. A person who is coerced against his will does not necessarily change his beliefs; often, he becomes even more determined,” Mwila said. His comments come amid debate over the leadership of the Tonse Alliance following the detention of Mundubile and Zulu. Earlier, Tonse Pamodzi Alliance Lusaka Province Presidential Coordinator Kapembwa Simbao told News Diggers that the arrests of Mundubile and Zulu could create an opportunity for other members of the alliance to assume greater responsibility. Mwila, however, rejected suggestions that the detention of Mundubile had created a leadership vacuum within the alliance. He also distanced the alliance from recent statements attributed to Zumani Zimba, saying the remarks were made in Zimba’s personal capacity and did not represent the official position of the Tonse Alliance. “Zumani Zimba’s statements do not represent the Tonse Alliance. For the avoidance of doubt, statements recently attributed to Mr Zumani Zimba were made in his personal capacity and were not issued following consultation with or clearance from the leadership of the Tonse Alliance,” Mwila said. He maintained that Mundubile remained the president and leader of the alliance and that there had been no formal change to its leadership. “There is no power vacuum in the Tonse Alliance. We further wish to make it categor