BAROTSELAND GROUP DEMANDS ANSWERS OVER PROLONGED DETENTION OF NINE IN SESHEKE
A growing human rights controversy has emerged in Western Province following allegations that a 72-year-old man and eight others have been detained at Sesheke Police Station for more than 30 days without being taken before a court.
The allegations were raised by Busile, Proponents of Self-Rule, Linyungandambo, a Barotseland advocacy group, in a letter addressed to Western Division Police Commissioner Ray Hamoonga.
According to the group, 72-year-old Lawrence Matongo and eight fellow detainees have spent more than 720 hours in police custody, far exceeding Zambia’s legal requirement that suspects be presented before a court within 48 hours.
The organization described the prolonged detention as an “inhumane abuse of authority” and questioned why no satisfactory explanation has been provided by police authorities.
“No law in Zambia allows the police to keep suspects in police cells for more than 48 hours,” the statement reads. “This is the first time in Zambia’s history to have people kept for such a long period.”
The group further argued that the conditions in police cells make such lengthy detention particularly harsh, noting that detainees have limited access to basic hygiene and other necessities.
In a strongly worded appeal, the organization called on the Police Command to publicly explain the circumstances surrounding the continued detention of the nine individuals.
Copies of the complaint were also sent to international human rights bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, and Survival International.
As public concern grows, attention is now turning to police authorities for a response to the allegations and clarification on the legal status of the detainees.
At the time of publication, no official statement had been issued by the Zambia Police Service regarding the matter.
