Zambia arrests ex-minister, journalists

ZAMBIAN authorities arrested an ex-information minister and three journalists for old stories that were critical of the then opposition leader and now president Michael Sata.

Report by Sowetan

Ex-minister Ronnie Shikapwasha was charged with abuse of office for telling public television to air documentaries discrediting Sata in the run up to the 2011 elections.

“Being an employee in the ministry, he arbitrarily and in disregard of defamation laws and ZNBC editorial policy, did direct the board and management to air “Stand up for Zambia” documentaries, an act prejudicial to the rights and interest of ZNBC,” said Namukolo Kasumpa, spokeswoman for the anti-corruption taskforce.

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