Further information on UA 64/93 (AFR 63/01/93, 9 March) - Zambia: legal concern: Bweendo Mulengela, Bonnie Tembo, Peter Lishika, Christopher Muyoka, Weze Kaunda, Steven Moyo, Rabson Chongo, Stan Mutanga, McPherson Mbulo, William Banda, Rupiya Banda, Siand
Panji Kaunda, eldest son of former President Kenneth Kaunda, was arrested on 14 March 1993. Wilfred Wanani, Chairman for Local Government and Housing in the opposition UNIP party, was arrested on 18 March. These are the most recent detentions of UNIP members since the imposition of the State of Emergency. AI is concerned about allegations that Cuthbert Nguni and Henry Kamima have been ill-treated in detention. Four UNIP members were released without charge on 17 March. Weze Kaunda has reportedly ended his hunger- strike.
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AFR 63/02/93
Distr: UA/SC
19 March 1993
Further information on UA 64/93 (AFR 63/01/93, 9 March 1993) - Legal concern
ZAMBIA:
Bweendo Mulengela William Banda
Bonnie Tembo Rupiya Banda
Peter Lishika Sianda Ilukena
Christopher Muyoka Cuthbert Nguni
Wezi Kaunda Henry Kamima
Steven Moyo Philemon Lwabila - released
Rabson Chongo Peter Mwanza - released
Stan Mutanga Stanley Mhango - released
McPherson Mbulo Ackim Zimba - released
and new names:
Panji Kaunda
Wilfred Wanani
Panji Kaunda, the eldest son of Zambia's former President Kenneth Kaunda, was arrested
on 14 March 1993 and is reported to be in police custody in Chipata in Eastern Province.
Wilfred Wanani, Chairman for Local Government and Housing in the opposition United
National Independence Party (UNIP), was arrested on 18 March 1993. These are the
most recent detentions of UNIP members under the Preservation of Public Security
Regulations which came in force after a State of Emergency was declared on 4 March
1993. The regulations allow indefinite detention without charge or trial.
Amnesty International is also concerned by allegations that at least two detained
UNIP members have been ill-treated. It has been alleged that Cuthbert Nguni, member
of parliament for Chipata, was questioned without a break for 39 hours during which
time he was made to balance on two bricks. It is also alleged that he was made to
perform exercises that involved spinning in one place to induce dizziness and that
when he fell to the ground he was kicked. Henry Kamima, former head of security when
UNIP was in government, is reported to have been tied to a chair and punched.
On 17 March 1993, however, the authorities released Philemon Lwabila, Peter Mwanza,
Stanley Mhango and Ackim Zimba without laying any charges against them. Weze Kaunda
is reported to have ended his hunger-strike.
Those who remain in detention, now 16 in number, have been dispersed around the country
to different civil prisons. There are as yet no signs that the authorities intend
to bring criminal charges against them. Indeed one, Steven Moyo, a lecturer at the
University of Zambia and former head of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation,
has been served with a 28-day detention order which suggests that the authorities
are not in a position to bring criminal charges against him at least.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The government led by President Frederick Chiluba claims to have discovered a UNIP
plot to make the country ungovernable through an orchestrated campaign of civil
disobedience. The evidence so far made public is a document entitled The Zero Option
which was discovered in UNIP headquarters in Lusaka. The UNIP leadership has denied
that the document was party policy. The authorities claim to have subsequently uncovered
a second document which gives details of a coup plot.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes and airmail letters in
English or your own language:
- expressing concern at the detention without charge or trial of Panji Kaunda and
Wilfred Wanani and 14 other United National Independence Party (UNIP) members named
above (please select two or three names from the list as examples) who Amnesty
International believes may be prisoners of conscience detained for their non-violent
opposition to the government;
- expressing Amnesty International's opposition to administrative detention
Page 2 of FU 64/93
procedures which provide for indefinite detention without charge or trial;
- expressing concern at allegations that Cuthbert Nguni and Henry Kamima have been
physically ill-treated;
- urging that allegations of ill-treatment be independently, impartially and thoroughly
investigated and that the government makes public the findings of the investigations;
- welcoming the release of Philemon Lwabila, Peter Mwanza, Stanley Mhango and Ackim
Zimba and urging that all the other detainees be released if they are not to be charged
with a recognisably criminal offence and brought promptly to a fair trial.
APPEALS TO
1) His Excellency Frederick Chiluba
President of the Republic of Zambia
Office of the President
State House
PO Box 30208
Lusaka, Zambia
Telegrams: President Chiluba, Lusaka, Zambia
Telexes: 41998 or 41460
Salutation: Your Excellency
2) The Hon. Newstead Zimba
Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
PO Box 32862
Lusaka, Zambia
Telegrams: Hon. Newstead Zimba, Minister of Home Affairs, Lusaka, Zambia
Telexes: 40344
Salutation: Dear Minister
3) The Hon. Vernon Mwaanga
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Charter House
PO Box 50069
Lusaka, Zambia
Telegrams: Hon. Vernon Mwaanga, Minsiter of Foreign Affairs, Lusaka,
Zambia
Telexes: 41290
Salutation: Dear Minister
4) The Hon. Dr Roger Chongwe
Minister of Legal Affairs
Ministry of Legal Affairs
PO Box 50106
Fairley Rd
Lusaka, Zambia
Telegrams: Hon. Dr Roger Chongwe, Minister of Legal Affairs, Lusaka,
Zambia
Telexes: 40564
Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
The Editor The Editor
Weekly Post The Times of Zambia
Private Bag EF 352 PO Box 30394
Lusaka, Zambia Lusaka, Zambia
and to diplomatic representatives of Zambia accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your
section office, if sending appeals after 30 April 1993.