Presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile has questioned the continued detention of Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa, raising concerns over what he described as a contradiction between public directives issued by President Hakainde Hichilema and the conduct of the Zambia Police.
Mundubile spoke on Wednesday after visiting Sampa, who has been in police custody since the previous day over an alleged cyber-related offence. He said the continued detention was difficult to reconcile with repeated public assurances from the President regarding the handling of suspects accused of bailable offences.
President Hichilema has, on several occasions, stated that individuals should not be arrested before investigations are concluded and that suspects facing bailable offences should not be detained unnecessarily. Mundubile said the circumstances surrounding Sampa’s detention raised questions about whether these directives were being observed in practice.
He expressed concern over what he described as conflicting positions between the President and Graphel Musamba, the Inspector General of Police. Mundubile questioned whether police leadership was acting independently of presidential guidance.
“We want to know whether the Inspector General of Police is a law unto himself, even to the extent of disregarding what the President has said,” Mundubile stated.
He said police officers had failed to provide clear reasons for Sampa’s continued detention, despite the offence being described as bailable. According to Mundubile, this lack of clarity has fuelled concern among political actors and members of the public regarding the consistency of law enforcement practices.
Mundubile reiterated that President Hichilema has publicly assured the nation that suspects should not be detained unnecessarily, particularly in cases involving bondable offences. He said these assurances had been made repeatedly and were well known.
“The President has repeatedly assured the nation that suspects will not be held unnecessarily, especially in cases involving bailable offences. We are therefore wondering why Mr Sampa continues to be detained,” Mundubile said.
He called on both the President and the Inspector General of Police to reconcile their public statements and positions, stating that clarity was required to restore confidence in law enforcement processes.
Mundubile said the continued detention of the Matero lawmaker raised broader questions about whether presidential directives were being respected within the Zambia Police Service. He added that such situations risk creating uncertainty about the chain of authority and accountability in the administration of justice.
Miles Sampa, who represents Matero Constituency, was detained in connection with an alleged cyber-related offence. Police have not publicly detailed the specific grounds for the continued detention, nor have they indicated when he is expected to be released on bond or formally charged.
The matter has drawn attention due to Sampa’s status as a sitting Member of Parliament and the wider political context in which the detention has occurred. Political stakeholders have increasingly raised concerns over arrests and detentions linked to bailable offences, particularly where suspects are held for extended periods without clear explanations.
Mundubile said his remarks were not intended to interfere with police investigations but were aimed at seeking clarity and consistency in the application of the law. He stressed that respect for due process and adherence to publicly stated policy positions were essential for maintaining public trust.
Neither the Zambia Police nor the Office of the Inspector General had issued a response to Mundubile’s remarks by the time of publication.
Bullies, dictators-hypocrites. They take over only to start doing exactly what their predecessors were doing. Harassing their opponents using legal instruments such as the barking dogs police
Now I understand why 7 years ago Former Minister of Finance and veteran politician Alexander Chikwanda’ s daughter termed the PF mayoral candidate was a fool and an idiot.
Politicians who defect from their earlier project to work underground with UPND should expect to be harassed if they are too visible in election year. Period
Here we go again a poor mind like the one above will always blame others for their problem making you break the law deliberately then you start blaming others. Face it, do not waist our time.
@ Fish rots from the head
Just face it and learn to be a good citizen. What you are encouraging people is just the same as blaming the economy and the government for your poverty which you caused yourself by refusing to gain a valuable skill to earn you money every day instead you choose to be blaming others. As long as you keep thinking in those line I can assure that poverty will be always with you permanently.
When a grz fails why must we the citizens take the blame for that
hard work and skills only come in a peaceful, ethical and moral enviroment
This does not prevail
Not long ago Sampa was a faithful PF agent for UPND when he miraculously held intra party elections and became PF president with full UPND blessings and state protection before Chabinga got the PF cash cow trophy position. I feel HH has been non tribal because he forgave , brought closer and appointed people that spoke unprintable bad language against him like Father Frank Bwalya and Kalimanshi but HH has not embraced top grade political material from his home province such as Edify Hamukale who recently got nominated to the World Agriculture Forum, Ephraim Belemu who is Vice Chancelor of ARU, lubinda Habazoka of UNZA and many more. Viva HH
Viva HH ???
He said he didn’t mind going to prison
Yes Sam, that is what he said. He knew that what he had said was unacceptable, He is a member of parliament who does not know how to behave as such. He has to face the law. He has to learn how to control his tongue. A lesson to others.
…….
Keep Sampa theya,……
with muniour Zulu, to keep him company……
Also reserve space for Kambwili and binwell mpundu……….
It’s time to have mature and issue based politics and campaigns……….
FWD2041
Ba Mundubile Ask HH