Socialist Party president Fred M’membe says pressure from state institutions will not silence him following his recent arrest.
Speaking after his release from police custody, M’membe said he would continue addressing national issues despite the legal action taken against him. He delivered the remarks in response to his detention over comments he made regarding the burial of former president Edgar Lungu.
“HH won’t break me,” M’membe said, referring to President Hakainde Hichilema.
The opposition leader was detained after making statements about the prolonged burial arrangements of the late former head of state, a matter that has generated intense public discussion across the country.
His arrest immediately drew attention from political figures and the public, placing M’membe once again at the centre of Zambia’s highly charged political conversation.
Following his release, the Socialist Party leader insisted that the experience would not discourage him from speaking on matters he considers important to the country’s political direction.
M’membe has been among the most outspoken critics of the current administration. In recent years he has frequently commented on governance issues, economic policy and political developments. His remarks concerning Edgar Lungu’s burial brought renewed scrutiny from authorities and resulted in his detention and questioning by police.
After regaining his freedom, M’membe framed the episode as part of a wider contest involving political authority and freedom of expression. He maintained that his role as a political leader requires him to continue raising national issues even when those views attract strong reactions.
The burial of Edgar Lungu has remained a sensitive topic in the country’s political environment. The passage of time since the former president’s death has prompted debate among political actors and members of the public about the circumstances surrounding the delay.
M’membe’s comments therefore placed him directly within an already delicate national discussion. Supporters of the Socialist Party leader interpret the arrest as pressure on opposition figures who speak critically about government actions.
Government authorities have repeatedly stated that law enforcement institutions operate within legal frameworks when responding to statements believed to breach the law.
The contrasting interpretations illustrate the sharp political competition shaping Zambia’s current political atmosphere.
M’membe has remained a central figure within that environment. Before entering party politics, he spent decades as a newspaper editor and publisher, becoming one of the country’s most recognisable commentators on national affairs.
His transition into politics came with the formation of the Socialist Party, which positions itself as an alternative voice within Zambia’s multiparty political system.
Since establishing the party, M’membe has continued to engage actively in public debate, addressing issues related to governance, constitutional order and political accountability.
His comments following the arrest suggest the latest confrontation will not reduce his involvement in national political discussions.
Instead, the statement appears to reinforce his determination to remain vocal on matters affecting the country. The episode also highlights the increasingly intense nature of Zambia’s political discourse as parties strengthen their positions ahead of the next election period.
Public exchanges between opposition leaders and government representatives have become more frequent, often drawing widespread national attention.
In that environment, statements made by prominent political figures quickly become part of the broader political narrative.
M’membe’s declaration following his release therefore adds another moment to Zambia’s evolving political conversation.
For the Socialist Party leader, the message was direct: pressure will not silence him.
No intimidation here sir.
Just MIND your language…
You are grown up
Remember free speech in Zambia comes with a 1,001 T&C’s
Get to know them the most important one I think is only us mortals are allowed to sling mud at each other ?
Tulu
How about going back to your beleaguered and non-compliant “Weekly Toilet”?
The Post practiced free speech. and MMD allowed it. So did Sata. Until Lungu killed it and self important HH danced on its grave
I do not think that M’membe’s suggestion that ECL has not been buried yet because HH wants to eat ECL’s remains. Has my brother Freddie, or anyone else as a matter of fact, ever eaten the flesh of a human being? This has nothing to do with intimidation by the incumbent president or the Ministry of Justice. Any citizen who could have uttered such words would have been interrogated by the police regardless his or her status. Freddie should just learn to tame his tongue.
Stop pretending to be dumb when it suits you. M’membe didn’t say, he asked if HH wanted to eat Lungu. Like a politician he dramatized the current situation