Chongwe Member of Parliament along with scores of UPND cadres spent Tuesday night locked up in police cells after they were arrested for illegal procession.
This was after Mrs Masebo was picked up by police when she walked from Magistrates Complex towards the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka accompanied by scores of her sympathisers mostly from the UPND.
She was in court on two charges of abuse of office authority but her case could not take off as the Director of Public Prosecutions was not ready to proceed.
Mrs Masebo was first taken to Woodlands Police around 10:30 Hours and detained until 17:30 Hours as her lawyers negotiated with Police officers led by Lusaka Police Commissioner Charity Katanga for her release.
The UPND legal team were attempting to have Mrs Masebo along with the cadres appear in court in the afternoon but the police were not ready to proceed to court.
And UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has condemned the arrest of Mrs Masebo and the UPND members.
Mr Hichilema said Mrs Masebo has become the latest victim of state repression against all those perceived to be opposed to their way of doing things.
‘If the information reaching us is correct, the only crime Hon. Masebo committed was to take a walk from courts after her case was adjourned and charged with unlawful procession. Even more disheartening is that she has been denied bond and is currently in police custody together with a number of other people that escorted her to court,’ Mr Hichilema stated.
He added, ‘Fellow countrymen and women, this is what we have been talking about with regard to respect for the rule of law, abuse of human and constitutional rights, freedom of expression, association and movement.’
Mr Hichilema said to arrest someone for deciding to walk is unacceptable and that he fears the country keeping going back into the same backward cycle of arresting each other once you differ in opinions.
‘It is not long ago that President Edgar Lungu personally threatened to lockup Kasama Central MP Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) and Hon. Silvia Masebo and today both have tested police detentions in clear cases of persecutions.’
‘I have always wondered why even the so called humble men and women quickly become aliens from society and power gets to their heads and start oppressing others?’ He questioned.
Mr Hichilema said It is these sorts of things that the country never develops because as leaders, exert all their energies on trivial things of political preservation by fixing opponents instead of fixing the economy.
‘Zambia currently faces many challenges and one would expect those in leadership will be seeking out to everyone, including perceived enemies, and join hands in rescuing the economic challenges so as to serve jobs in many sectors created by clipping power deficit, huge budget deficit, clipping debt burden, university closures, and create jobs for our youths and women,’ Mr Hichilema said.
‘Such actions of persecuting opponents, hate speech, vulgar language, violence, etc only increases tension in the country and scares away potential investors due to political instability we tend to create and later we blame natural calamities over our own economic downturn. In a democratic country such as ours, differences in opinions must be encouraged based on who has the best and superior alternatives and policies to fix the economy and not to fix perceived political opponents. We are praying and stand with Hon. Masebo and the people of Chongwe during this trying moment.’
Ifyabupuba pa Zed. Today you are a minister tomorrow you are a thug. Vote wisely my people
What about the choppers which are malfunctioning everywhere, some even on the way to ferry PF ministers to their villages. Bring some news of wasting government resources.
@Nostradamus
Ala mwandi boyi! ‘our’ friend lungu achilamo, we all drink but our home dont malfunction… Lungu is bad example of us people who drink
Very sad reading. What has become of our nation. Locking up people simply because you have power to order police around is not way to go, Edgar. Is this your vision? Stay strong Sylvia, you will have the last laugh. Wise words from the in-coming president, Mr HH.
This nation (Zambia) is on standstill.
“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” .
A quote from Martin Luther King
OK Edgar is becoming too a pain in the back-side. Why would you arrest someone for walking? She was going to UTH to see a patient. People are not allowed to assemble and now they can’t even walk? What the fudge!
I voted for PF and Lungu and I seriously regret.
Why was she walking when she has a car? Anyway, she was a law maker herself, these things can turn against you ka!
Sometimes such actions by the state make none heroes/ heroines heroes/heroines. The government has a lot of things to fix, the economy, job losses, malaiti AND even broken down presidential choppers and defence ministers choppers that seem to be affected by the el nino of the falling kwacha ngwee. Let’s live happily but having different opinions of things. I will always get a life outside politics
PF GOVERNMENT HAS FEAR OF UNKNOWN. THEY HAVE PHOBIA SINCE WE ARE ENTERING 2016 AND I WANT TO ASK PF COLEAGUES THAT IS THIS THE PERSON YOU HAVE ADOPTED TO BE YOUR 2016 CANDIDATE? DON’T YOU THINK THE MORE HE CREATES HATRED THE MORE HE WILL LOOSE ELECTIONS?
PF GOVERNMENT HAS FEAR OF UNKNOWN. THEY HAVE PHOBIA SINCE WE ARE ENTERING 2016 AND I WANT TO ASK PF COLLEAGUES THAT IS THIS THE PERSON YOU HAVE ADOPTED TO BE YOUR 2016 CANDIDATE? DON’T YOU THINK THE MORE HE CREATES HATRED THE MORE HE WILL LOOSE ELECTIONS?
As long as we continue being pipo who are not responsible of what we do we are not taking this country anywhere. Govt can buy drugs and take them to clinics. we steal the drugs and put the blame on g3ovt when there is shortage. Are you sure masebo has done nothing wrong?
@Kayula! Tell us what she did wrong by expressing her freedom!
@kayula. Sylvia Masebo may have done “something wrong”, but you leave that to the courts of law to determine. There was no need for the police to deny her bail just to “fix” her. That is wrong. This is the same mentality where ECL & RB wanted to “fix” the DPP but are failing. A time of reckoning will come. It is also a shame for ECL to become RB’s vuvuzela trying to convince us that the courts have aquitted him. ECL was supposed to be asking the state to appeal that magistrate’s ruling! If it was the Supreme court that acquitted RB, then we would be sure that he is an innocent man.
ONLY REASON THIS IS HAPPENING IS BECAUSE MASEBO HAPPENS TO BE WOMAN. REAL CRIMINALS ARE BEING PARDONED BY LUNGU EVERY OTHER WEEK INCLUDING CORRUPT POLITICIANS AND DEFILERS. YET MASEBO CAN NOT EXERCISE HER RIGHT TO WALK? SILVIA IS A STRONG WOMAN AND THE ZAMBIA NEEDS MORE STRONG LADIES LIKE HER. THE PEOPLE WILL STAND BY HER SIDE AND JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. IT IS PF CUSTOM TO PICK ON WOMEN. LOOK HOW THEY TREATED DR KASEBA AND KAINGU IS STILL IN POWER AFTER INSULTING A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT BECAUSE SHE HAPPENS TO BE A WOMAN.
VIVA HONOURABLE MASEBO!
Instead of fixing the economy, govt is fixing people with opposing views.
Does this Updn so called economist really understands what fixing the economy means. First of all what is economy? If you one understands the basics of economics you will know the human resource is fundamental to a bright economy. How do you expect to progress economically with corrupt people like masebo.
SB, when Lungu was minister of home affaires we all remember how him and mulenga sata tried to scam the country by selling lusaka a $230 million cctv system. Since lungu has been in office he has not once uttered the word ‘corruption’ in case it tails him. You are right we will not develop with corruption prone leaders incharge.
@Sponge bog ilimbwa.Reason with head.
Is masebo UPND or PF member cos there are a lot who still wants to be double tobela.
Criminals are being set free like Masumba who I recently met driving a GRZ registered vehicle while the innocent are being locked up.
Democracy- the freedome of speech, movement, right to vote etc. We can no longer call ourselves a democratic country! During mmd days opposition were allowed to move freely without being harrased, locked up by police and threatened! Those days are gone…oh cry my beloved country…
WOMEN OF ZAMBIA IT IS TIME YOU RISE UP TO DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS. MASEBO IS BEING VICTIMISED BECAUSE THE PF FIND IT UNFATHOMABLE THAT A WOMAN CAN BE AS STRONG AS SHE IS AND STAND HER GROUND ON PRINCIPLE. ALL THEY WANT ARE WOMEN THAT WHEN LUNGU SAYS JUMP THEY ASK HOW HIGH! VIVA HONOURABLE MASEBO!
HH this girl was creating a scene in public. Since when did Musebo walk bare footed in public?
You are really blind. Every day thousands and thousands of Zambians walk barefoot.
What is wrong with that??
Ba Luapula. Since when did walking bare foot become an offence? It is this kind of thinking that is taking us backwards. Are u going to arrest all those walking bare foot?
Ali pa police station en-route to the cells after ba Nyambe bamweba ati, “Chosa sapato!” It is not that she walked barefooted of her own free will…!
@Luapula premier let me remind you that Zambia is a democracy and every one has a right to freedom of expression,which includes protest match as long as its peacefull.
Comment: So even H H knowns that ECL is humble. as for the economy,its global,you economist! who do you want to fool?
I am a staunch supporter of His Excellence President Chagwa Lungu. But sometimes i do fail to understand his level of thinking and hatred towards other political opponents; especially ladfies. It is such acts that scare away potential investors. Sometimes i do think that the President is not doing all that oppression purposefully; may be he is just possessed with retrogressive demons or he is not just very normal. I believe thousands of days that he has spent drinking strong alcohol has made him to behave like a mad man. Beer has affected his mental capacity. I MISS MICHEAL; THE GREAT.
@luapula premier.
Masebo was bare footed in the pics coz she was being led to the cells at Woodlands Police Station.
PF should stop fixing individuals, instead let them fix the challenges of looming massive job loses in the mines, ailing Kwacha, reverse tarrif hikes to the mines, refund the mines millions of Dollar in VAT returns.
A revolution against PF is brooding on the copperbelt.
Hunger looms. The price of a 50kg of compound D fertilizer is now costing ZMK310.00. Mealie meal is now at ZMK 70.00 in Chongwe and bread is at ZMK9.00.
Masebo is a law maker so she knows very well the end results for every action she takes. There is POA in place and she is learned on the procedures, no one is above the law. Under five HH should not pretend law is law.
Silvia is a prominent person who knew what she was doing. If we begin to condemn the govt and the police for correcting what is wrong, then we will be making Zambia ungovernable. Public porocessions should have police clearance so as to protect both the marchers and those that are just watching, mind you criminals tend to take advantage of every opportunity including processions to start violent activities which may eventually lead to riots. Silvia is a law maker but she is in the forefront of breaking the law and you expect the police to just sit and watch her misbehave and create confusions. Please people let us be fair to the government atleast for once. HH should not rush in condeming the arrest of his cadre but should congratulate the police for enforcing the law which he would have…
@KOPALA FIRST OF ALL THE POA IS BY ITS VERY NATURE AN OPPRESSIVE LAW. IT IS MEANT TO QUASH DECENT. BE THAT AS IT IS WHY IS IT THAT OF ALL THE OTHER POLITICIANS THAT HAVE MADE PUBLIC APPEARANCES SILVIA IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN MADE TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN CELLS FOR A BAILABLE OFFENCE? THE REASON IS SIMPLE ITS BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN AND THE PF THROUGH THEIR DICTATORIAL AIDING POLICE MISCONSTRUED HER FOR AN EASY TARGET. WELL THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA WILL STAND BESIDE HER AND JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. ONCE AGAIN THE ON LY REASON THIS SO CALLED POA IS BEING APPLIED TO THIS EXTENT IS BECAUSE SILVIA IS A WOMAN. TTHEY FAILED TO TOUCH GBM WHY?
upnd thoughtless carders including hh,
What is important is that the law must be applied to all no matter what gender, status in society. The same you will say the Police is not working. How do you say that Masebo opted to walk bare feet as a good choice. You have a big problem in your party. By the way is Masebo upnd or PF? or both? It is this reaction that you have towards the ruling party every time you mess up things that makes you confused.
Learn to act after a thought.
Mwikala patlala mwine apatalalika
Be strong auntie Sylvia. Gallant woman of varlor. Yours was a mission to dismantle a foreign driven tourism cartel. But now the cartel is smiling. Persecution is a path towards being a heroine of the struggle for good over evil. Only do not do things that will make you numbered among the wicked. Keep your cool Mum and God will bring you to victory. I agree with Dr. Mumba that Zambian politics is now a war between good and evil. Right and wrong. Evil’s success however is not permanent.
@Gara wakateya
You seem not to understand the world economies and the pricing of goods and services. The truth is the prices of goods have remained the same as from the days of KK, FTJ, LPM, RB,MCS and ECL. The price D compound fertilizer is 310 ZMK which is 32 US dollars, Mealie meal you said is 70 ZMK this is about 7 US dollars, and the price of bread is always below 1 US dollar. Please go check with the Central Statistics Offices.
@PIO,
HOW MUCH DO YOU EARN ON MONTHLY BASIS? IF YOU SAY NOTHING HAS CHANGED, YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MAJORITY WHO GET LESS THAN K1000 PER MONTH AND HOW DO THEY SURVIVE? YOU ARE SPEAKING LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU GET A FAT SALARY WHICH WHEN PEOPLE IN CHAWAMA AND KANYAMA SAY WE ARE HUNGRY AND CAN NOT AFFORD TWO MEALS A DAY.
Masebo must realize very fast that she is not a factor in politics and that her stud1d1ty and lack of respect for the law will not take her anywhere. She is finished politically and hence her misbehavior.
Masebo is confused that the PF Government has developed Lusaka East including Chongwe and Palabana without her involvement. The lady has realized that her days are over as Chongwe MP because all the development taking place in Chongwe and Palabana is by the PF Government.
Just take a drive around Lusaka especially Lusaka East and you will agree with what many are appreciating the seriousness with which President Lungu has on development. Everywhere you go in Lusaka, there is development activity and motorist cannot believe that once muddy and gravel roads right up to their homes are…
@ Kaloppadirtcum
GREAT! So I can drive on a beautiful road that is one of the most expensive in the WORLD due to all the corruption and kickbacks! And when I want to buy anything it costs TWICE AS MUCH! And I have LOST MY JOB on the mines due to Lungu shedding! And when I get home there is NO WATER to wash. NO POWER to cook food!
This is fantastic progress! I am sure everyone will agree.
Those saying PF has misplaced priorities obviously don’t know what they are talking about.
Well if Masebo is no longer a factor in Zambian politics, then why are you so jittery about her? Let us see who wins the Chongwe seat next year.
Roads in Zambia cost 5 Times what a similar road elswhere would cost. A normal road should cost about $400,000/Km. In Zambia, roads cost $2,000,000/Km. Is that normal? Is that the development you are talking about? A proper Govt must show a prudent use of resources. That is where ECL has failed.
If she is not a factor why was she arrested???????????????????????????????
She is a Liverpool supporter. “You will never walk alone” Hence she was arrested. How do you walk with 100 people? Not ever in Liverpool
She shud not be a problem just cage her and thru away the keys.
masebo just swallow your pride, the problem with you talking too much, copy life for namugala and others. masebo , nawakwi too talkative, even in marriage if you talk too much, ma divorce ni everyday. mama don’t be too pride or else ulemu kusila, those upnd cadres just cheating you. people in chongwe will lose confidence in you.
Silyvia Masebo from Zimbabwe is a notorious chap..remember the Ambulance saga that Tetamashimba raised but he died before he could finish the business? You go and look at her activities as far back as the University where she studied library studies. First she evicted her roommate from a room meant to be shared. She harbored a wanted drug dealer whom she later married. She tried to do makweo but failed then went into the council, see how she manipulated Winter to grab and buy council property in the end they infected each other…the list is endless let her taste police cells because in a normal country she would have served time…
Ubupuba ba Masebo! She even knew the consequences of such silly actions. Nefibantu fimbi filesapota …atase! Imagine what would happen if eachone of us was to be walking towards State house with our cadres/ Would there be sanity? Muletontonkanyako ba mumbwe!
WHAT I KNOW IS THAT LEADERSHIP IS FULL OF OPPOSITION AND WHEN YOU HATE TO BE OPPOSED THEN YOU ARE NOT LEADING. WHAT PF SHOULD KNOW IS THAT GOD WILL SHOW THEM ONE DAY THE RIGHT DIRECTION FIT FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO OTHERS.
WHERE IS THE MONEY WHICH WAS FOUND IN LATE WILLY NSANDA’S HOUSE? WHERE IS KAMBWILI AND THE PLOT ISSUES IN LUANSHYA GONE TO, THE PRESIDENT’S CASE OF THE PENSIONERS? THE KILLINGS IN LIVINGSTONE INVOLVING SOME LEADERS AND MONGU HOW HAVE THEY BEEN SOLVED? THERE ARE REAL ISSUES WHICH WE WANT TO SEE ARRESTED EG. INFLATION OF KWACHA, UNEMPLOYMENT, HIKES OF PRICES, POWER CUTS ETC.
PLEASE MY PRAYER IS THAT ALL THESE GUYS MUST REFLECT ON WHAT LEVY DID. HE REDUCE LOANS TO ZERO AND DEVELOPMENT WENT ON. PF IS BOASTING ON DEVELOPMENT OF LOAN INCREASE FORGETTING MANY…
I WILL TRY JAMESON THIS WEEK END MAYBE I CAN DEVELOP CHEEKS AND A POT BELLY,
Please make sure wadyelatu otherwise uzazinyela!
What about the real owner of the beer, anazinyela or not yet. Mu uze azazinyela one day. He thinks he is used to it.
Masebo is free to walk the length and breatdth of this vast land bare feet if she prefers. But Sylvia do it alone without that horde of unruly cadres and no one will bother you!
Ba UPND I thought you are the educated ones,ba HH your level of desparation is making you a danda head. Even if it was UPND in power today they wouldn’t have allowed that procession to proceed, it’s lawlessness. You chi Masebo your plan failed because you didn’t have the numbers sorry . That’s why ifintu ni Lungu chase
H.H you are a let down.How can you support people breaking the law like that.Well done ZP and this mother of harlots thinks there is no govt.
I want to advice UPND that this people that you are supporting today will give you serious problems in future.Check their previous records and see where they are coming from.Masebo caused problems in MMD and now PF and don’t think they won’t do the same to you.Be careful bane and it is just a matter of time.
As for you nodding GBM remarks that a bemba should have been a veep that westerner is very big insult for the people of western province and now i understand why people like SAKWIBA SIKOTA don’t like.
Where do you put westeners?
I want to appeal to all westerners and bemba speaking people that be careful with UPND and this people can…
How about those motorists who were threatened and inconvienienced along nationalist road because masebo was walking with 100 pipo. why did they have to walk in the middle of the road. pipo lets not just condemn just because. masebo got what she deserves. i hope she spends another nite in jail
UPND surprises me, they pressurised the late President Sata to set up a tribunal against Silvia Masebo’s misconduct and abuse of authority thru’ one William Harrington and she was found wanting, dropped as Minister and everyone praises UPND for being vigilant. But now she is appearing in court for the same, UPND is giving her moral support to the extent that they are now trying to break the law with impunity, and you really expect the majority of the Zambians to vote for HH for supporting lawlessness of this PF MP who hired UPND Cadres? Time will tell.
masebo was wrong. she cant give a lame excuse that she had no fuel money. does it mean all those walking with her did not have fuel money. Masebo stop being childish. UPND must be selective in its criticism also.
@Songo
I agree.
A funny guy called Kadanza used to do it similar to the Masebo.
But the police never took offense because he he was not abnormal behaving abnormally..
But when a normal personal like u suddenly start attracting other Kadanzas, behaving abnormally, police should surely step in..
I am sure police could have reacted differently if Masebo did that within court or parliament premises.
Why heading to hospital of all places?
What was the motive? To start a riot! This is African democracy.
@Zakeyo
Well articulated. My UPND FRIEND even organized a braii for Sata’s action on Musebo or is she Masebo?
Chosa nsapato
MASEBO WAS LEADING A PROCESSION OF AGITATED HOOLIGANS TOWARDS UTH.
OBVIOUSLY TO CAUSE A TRAFFIC JAM AND MAYHEM.
Ba UPND I thought you are the educated ones,ba HH your level of desparation is making you a danda head. Even if it was UPND in power today they wouldn’t have allowed that procession to proceed, it’s lawlessness. You chi Masebo your plan failed because you didn’t have the numbers sorry . That’s why ifintu ni Lungu chabe
Comment: Well said Zakeyo,i forgot. Look how foolish these upnd bloggers look.
Good, they should have locked her up and thrown away the keys. Trying to be a champion, for who? The fact of the matter is that she will still have to answer for her abuse of office charges. She thinks by woodwinking hh and cadres she can get away with it. No madam, you are a public nuisance,
“Seluka musapato iwe – nkhala hansi”
Ba Masebo nabo, ala fya kuifwaila.
She should have avoided this knowing well that she is a public figure.
But since she loves attention, surrounded by wrong people she brushed the law.
On the other hand, Zambian politicians, after ascending to ministerial offices no one ever
ponders on renovating police custody cells later on prisons.
In the end ni CHOSA SAPATO!!!!!!
Comment: So even H h forgot that they are the one who made sata drop masebo as minister. What desperation can do.
4000 people at mopani are on the verge of loosing their jobs, why can’t the pf government provide a solution to that instead of attacking innocent Masebo. Viva Masebo viva right thinking Zambians are behind you.
Our President should not forget that he is not going to be a President for Life.
No one will stop someone from walking in the streets but if you bring cadres along disturbing innocent people who are going about their businesses then that’s very wrong. Even in fundraising walks and other gatherings you need a permit and police escort. If all of us start behaving like that I tell you that’s creating confusion in the country. It’s good she spent a night in the chuks. fi UPND atase think!
EVEN OUR m.p. for serenje central phillip kosamu is a double tobela
Spot on Ba Mwine.What was her motive such characters who have no morals should be caged enough is enough we have credible leaders like the mama Inonge.Ask those who had worked at APG Milling they have a good story to tell about mama Masebo.If she is an honest woman let her tell the nation her dealings with APG Milling,be it socially,Business …
I feel pity for Masebo….she is being misled by UPND and come 2016,she will be packed cos the people of Chongwe are no longer interested in her.