Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga says a warn and caution statement has been recorded from opposition EEP leader Chilufya Tayali aged 47 of house number 38 Ngwezi road in Roma Township of Lusaka.
Mr. Hamoonga says this is in relation to the offence of inciting Mutiny contrary to Section 48 subsection (a) of the Penal Code and communication of certain information contrary to Section 4 (3) of the State Security Act Chapter 111 of the Laws of Zambia.
In a statement obtained by Q news, Mr. Hamoonga said brief facts of the matter are that Mr. Tayali between March 2022 and 2nd April, 2022 using social media allegedly did seduce persons serving in the defence force and Zambia police Service from their duty of allegiance to the Republican president.
It is further alleged that on the 2nd day of April, Mr Tayali at 19:59 in Lusaka without lawful excuse did receive an official classified Zambia Army message in contravention of the State security Act and later circulated the document on social media using his Facebook page account.
Mr. Tayali was picked up by police yesterday and detained at Ibex Hill Police Post where he spent the night without charge.
Meanwhile, some senior members of the opposition Patriotic Front among them PF presidential hopefuls Emmanuel Mwamba and Brian Mundubile have tried to no avail to see Mr. Tayali.
Mr. Mundubile has described the development as an assault on democracy.
And opposition PEP president Sean Tembo who also failed to gain access to the EEP leader says Mr. Tayali’s arrest is tantamount to denying him his right to association.
Meanwhile Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) President Jackson Silavwe says the detention of EEP president Chilufya Tayali without charge is unacceptable and disappointing especially that the new dawn government professes to be tolerant and one based on respect for the rule of law
Mr. Silavwe notes that president Hakainde Hichilema has made various pronouncements on the need for thorough investigations before an arrest is effected.
He says the detention of Mr. Tayali will be deemed as intimidation of political opponents by president Hakainde using the state machinery.