Zambian whistleblower charged with defaming president

By Obrain Mwiinga

LUSAKA, Zambia

Zambian police have arrested an opposition leader who exposed a $34.5-million Malawi-Zambia maize scandal which led to the detention of a former agriculture minister.

Police spokeswoman Esther Katongo told journalists on Thursday that Savior Chishimba, president of the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), had also been charged defaming Zambian President Edgar Lungu.

It is alleged that between July 1 and 8, Chishimba issued a statement in which he questioned Lungu's source of wealth over the last two years.

“This statement suggests and can be interpreted to mean that President Lungu used dishonest means to acquire his wealth during [the] period he has served as president of Zambia. Chishimba will remain detention pending his appearance in court,” Katongo said.

UPP National Chairman Kizito Mukuka told journalists Chishimba's arrest was the government’s retribution for exposing state corruption.

“There is nothing wrong in exposing corruption in government. The best thing the government should have done was not only to mop out all corrupt elements, but also tell the nation how the president acquired his wealth and the chapter is closed,” Mukuka said.

Chishimba has been a leading critic of President Lungu and has accused him of shielding corrupt ministers.