POLICE ARREST US-BASED ZAMBIAN who BROUGHT CREMATED REMAINS OF HIS LATE BROTHER
A 49-year-old Zambian Newton Kasonso who came from his base in the United States to bring cremated remains of his deceased brother for burial in Zambia has had his funeral procession aborted after Zambia Police arrested and charged him with cyber-related crimes.
Newton Kasonso is brother of the late Prof Jones Kasonso, a hard critic of President Hakainde Hichilema’s UPND regime, who died in Seattle on September 3, where he was working as a lecturer in finance.
After Prof Kasonso’s sudden death, his body was cremated and his ashes (remains) set for burial in his hometown of Ndola.
.
When Newton Kasonso arrived on Tuesday October 27 at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) with cremated remains of Prof] Kasonso, he was immediately arrested and detained over alleged for his past social media remarks linked to sedition and cyber-crime offences.
Zambia Police Spokesperson Chipo Kaitisha says Newton faces three charges, including seditious practices under the Penal Code and the alleged use of computer systems to commit offences under the Cyber Crimes Act No. 4 of 2025.
Kaitisha says the case stems from statements allegedly made on social media on August 18, 2026 and that he remains in police custody awaiting court appearance.
And according to Kaitisha, the bag containing cremated ashes of the late Prof Kasonso had been handed over to his family.