OPPOSITION MP CONDEMNS ARREST OF KALULUSHI BLOGGER
Kitwe… Thursday January 30, 2025
Nkana Member of Parliament, Hon. Binwell Chansa Mpundu, has criticized the government following the arrest of Abraham Rooney Kapya, a Kalulushi resident and Blogger, in what he described as an ongoing attempt to silence dissenting voices.
In a statement, Mpundu claimed that Kapya was apprehended by Lusaka-based police officers who trailed him to the NAPSA Complex in Kalulushi.
According to the MP, the officers arrested Kapya inside a shop, handcuffed him, and transferred him to Kitwe Central Police.
Hon Mpundu expressed concern that the arrest placed Kapya far from his family, making it difficult for them to provide him with basic necessities like food.
The MP further alleged that Kapya’s arrest was part of a pattern of targeting opposition members under the pretext of enforcing laws against hate speech.
He criticized the law as vague and prone to misuse, echoing concerns raised by UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Ms. Irene Khan, about its potential for abuse.
Hon Mpundu questioned the government’s commitment to upholding citizens’ rights to freedom of speech, describing the situation as intolerable and unfair.
“What sort of government is this honestly that cannot tolerate other people’s rights to freedom of speech?” he asked, adding that such actions undermined democratic principles.
The Zambia Police have not yet issued a statement to the allegations, and the circumstances surrounding Kapya’s arrest remain unclear.
OPPOSITION MP CONDEMNS ARREST OF KALULUSHI BLOGGER
