Munir Zulu, the independent member of parliament for Lumezi Constituency, has been arrested and charged with three counts of libel in Lusaka, Zambia. The charges are in connection with defamatory remarks that Zulu made against government officials.
According to police, Zulu alleged that Honorable Situmbeko Musokotwane and Honorable Charles Milupi, both ministers in the Zambian government, had received corrupt payments of $250,000 US dollars each from a company known to Zulu. In addition, Zulu also made a defamatory statement against Engineer Mulchand Kuntawala, alleging that he had sent $150,000 US dollars to Honorable Charles Mulupi before his appointment as the Board Chairperson for Roads Development Agency (RDA).
Zulu has been released on police bond and is waiting for a court appearance. The police have charged him with three counts of libel, contrary to section 191 of the Penal Code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Following his release, Zulu made remarks that angered some people, including Anderson Banda, the UPND Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson. Banda, who comes from Kumbi Village Chief Chitungulu in Lumezi District, expressed his disappointment over Zulu’s tribal remarks and the way he dragged villagers into his allegations against the ministers. Zulu had alleged that the villagers from Lumezi were more intelligent than those from Bweengwa.
In response to Zulu’s comments, Banda stated, “We do not expect an honorable member of parliament to use such language. We call for politics of maturity among political players. We also call on Mr. Zulu to sober up and present valid evidence before the law enforcement agencies, including the court of law, on the allegations he made against the ministers.”
Banda emphasized that the people of Lumezi should not be dragged into Zulu’s “shallow way of doing politics.” He said, “We are shocked to see an area member of parliament uttering tribal remarks and dragging villagers who have nothing to do with the allegations he made against the ministers. We do not want to be part of such politics. Mr. Zulu is on his own.”
