Hichilema condemned by UN rapporteurs

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has clocked three years in power, but faces condemnation from UN special rapporteurs for arbitrary jailing of critics. News24 reports that they said since January 2022, they had been made aware of 26 cases of wanton arrests, and detentions on charges of unlawful assembly, espionage and hate speech. ‘These practices have resulted in increasing political polarisation and self-censorship,’ which inhibit legitimate freedom of opinion, expression, association and assembly – the basic tenants of democracy,’ said Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. One of the most prominent cases was the jailing of Fred M'membe, the leader of the Socialist Party of Zambia. He was released on charges of sedition for publishing a newspaper article alleging an incident of corruption last week. The rapporteurs said that since December 2021, they had also learned of 16 incidents involving media outlets or journalists, in addition to 11 confrontations, assaults, and cases of intimidation and assault.