….I am NOT guilty of those charges, Dr M’membe exonerates himself
Lusaka, Tuesday, November 21, 2023 (Smart Eagles)
Leader of the opposition Socialist (SP) Fred M’membe has argued that he is not guilty of espionage charges which he recently got slapped with following his interview with a Zimbabwean journalist.
Dr M’membe enlighted the nation when he appeared on Diamond TV’s Costa that giving an interview to a foreign journalist is not a crime.
He also clarified that Zambia was not at war with Zimbabwe.
“What I have been alleged to have committed as a crime in my interview with the Zimbabwean journalist, none of those elements come in or have been violated, or can be invoked in the interview that I gave,” he said.
“Giving an interview to a foreign media organisation is not a crime. We give interviews to the BBC, we give interviews to Voice of America, we give interviews to SABC, we give interviews to so many media channels.”
The opposition leader stated that there could be possibilities that the state has no clue on “the espionage” they have charged him with.
“When did an interview with a foreign channel become espionage? And also, we are not at war with Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe is not an enemy of Zambia. Zambia is not an enemy of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe cannot be considered as the hostile foreign power. Where is the espionage? They never spelt anything, I think even themselves don’t know the espionage they have charged me with,” he said.
Dr M’membe reminded the nation that of the many charges he stands charged with, nothing has so far been taken to court.
“If you look at the arrests I have had, the charges I have had, nothing so far has been taken to court and has proceeded in court. Some of them have not even been taken to court. I was accused, charged with defaming the deputy IG, up to now that matter has not gone to court. We have not proceeded with me publishing information that was considered state secret, nothing has been proceeded. I was accused of shooting somebody, nothing has started in court to be prosecuted,” he said.
“They are in a hurry to arrest you but they are not in a hurry to take you to court to begin proceedings because they know the cases they are taking you to court for do not hold any water. Mr Hakainde Hichilema himself gave guidance to the police. He told the police to investigate before they charge and arrest people. Why arrest somebody, you charge them, then you start investigations?”
He further asked “why detain somebody and say they are detaining you so that they carry out investigations and then arrest you? Why not carry out investigations before you are arrested? So that immediately after being arrested you are taken to court or you are given bond, where bond is applicable?”
“They detain you for days then at the end they can’t take you to court, they are not ready. So if they are not ready, why not finish the investigations. When they finish the investigation then they effect an arrest.”