Police arrest M’membe, wife, Post deputy managing editor
Published On June 29, 2016 » 2097 Views» By Davies M.M Chanda » HOME SLIDE SHOW, SHOWCASE
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. Mmembe

. Mmembe

By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE, MILDRED KATONGO and KASONDE KASONDE –
POLICE in Lusaka yesterday arrested and charged Post Newspapers editor-in-chief Fred M’membe, his wife Mutinta and deputy managing editor Joseph Mwenda for criminal trespass.
Mr M’membe, his wife and Mr Mwenda are also charged with breaking into a building with intent to commit a felony and uttering a false document.
The trio was arrested at the Post Newspapers premises in the early hours of Tuesday after they allegedly attempted to gain entry into the newspaper premises after an order from the Revenue Appeals Tribunal that ordered the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to allow The Post to continue with its operations.
Mr M’membe, Mutinta and Mr Mwenda were detained at Lusaka Central Police Station until around 17:30 hours when they were released on police bond.
Zambia police deputy spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed the arrest of the trio and that they had been charged with three counts.
“Police in Lusaka have formally charged and arrested Mr Fred M’membe, his wife Mutinta Mazoka M’membe and Mr Joseph Mwenda for breaking into a building with intent to commit a felony, criminal trespass and uttering a false document,” Mr Hamoonga said.
Mr M’membe, Mutinta and Mr Mwenda’s lawyers Nchima Nchito and Chisuwo Hamweela were at the police station trying to facilitate the bonding of the trio.
Most of those who signed bond for the three are Post Newspapers employees.
Mr M’membe said shortly after his release that he would not be silenced with arrests, but would continue doing what he knew best, which was printing the newspaper.
Forum for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi, People’s Party president Mike Mulongoti and others were at the police station to give Mr M’membe, his wife and Mr Mwenda solidarity.
The trio will appear in court on Thursday next week.
Meanwhile, former Tourism deputy minister Nedson Nzowa has said that Mr M’membe’s behaviour to have him arrested in the night was one of his tactics to seek sympathy and divert the issue of paying the ZRA tax debt.
Mr Nzowa said the law enforcement agencies should be careful when dealing with Mr M’membe who he said was trying to seek sympathy from people.
He said Mr M’membe was playing in the authorities’ hands by provoking them in order to divert the issue of paying taxes.
Mr Nzowa said it was evident that Mr M’membe was now marrying the ZRA’s move to close the Post Newspapers and him being arrested.
“The authorities must carefully deal with Mr M’membe because he was playing into their hands to seek sympathy from people. He is provoking them so that he gains sympathy and divert the issue of paying the tax,” he said.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has urged the ZRA and the police to immediately honour the court orders presented to them and release the Post Newspapers’ goods.
LAZ president Linda Kasonde said the failure by ZRA and police to act in accordance with the rule of law called into question the Government’s statement that it had not interfered in the matter.
Ms Kasonde said LAZ was not advocating that the public should not pay their taxes, as this was in fact a constitutional duty.

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