More reporters charged

Two more reporters from Zambia’s independent daily ‘The Post’ were arrested on Saturday and charged with espionage, bringing to eight the number of journalists from the newspaper currently facing spying charges. Monday’s edition of ‘The Post’ reported that Zambian police on Saturday morning raided the homes of five journalists of the newspaper, arresting Douglas Hampande and MacPherson Muyumba, who were charged and then released on bail. The paper’s editor-in-chief, Fred M’membe, and reporters Reuben Phiri and Sam Mujuda were not at home when the police raided their homes. The espionage charge followed the publication of a report on the Zambian army’s weaponry by the newspaper two weeks ago. The report caused an uproar in Zambia’s parliament, prompting the deputy speaker to order the minister of defence to take “appropriate” action against the newspaper. Six journalists were arrested in pre-dawn raids following the deputy speaker’s order and they were charged with espionage two weeks ago and released on bail after spending two days in detention.