MISA DEMANDS IMMEDIATE POLICE BOND FOR DETAINED JOURNALIST GRANT MUKUKA
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has called on the Zambia Police Service to immediately grant police bond to detained journalist Grant Mukuka, saying his continued detention raises concerns over due process and the protection of media freedom.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, MISA Zambia Chairperson Lorraine Mwanza-Chisanga said Mukuka has been in police custody at Kabwata Police Station since 17 July 2026. She noted that despite providing the required sureties and meeting all the conditions for police bond, the journalist remains in detention over what the organisation described as a bondable offence.
MISA Zambia stated that police bond is a key safeguard within the criminal justice system, ensuring that suspects are not unnecessarily deprived of their liberty before their cases are heard and determined by the courts.
“Police bond exists because arrest and detention are not supposed to become punishment before a person has been convicted. It allows the justice system to continue its work while respecting the suspect’s rights,” Mwanza-Chisanga said in the statement.
The media rights organisation has since appealed to the relevant authorities to uphold the rule of law by granting Mukuka police bond without further delay.
MISA Zambia reiterated its commitment to promoting press freedom, human rights and adherence to due process, urging law enforcement agencies to ensure that legal procedures are applied fairly and consistently.
MISA DEMANDS IMMEDIATE POLICE BOND FOR DETAINED JOURNALIST GRANT MUKUKA
