/ 16 April 1999

JOURNALISTS IN SPY TRIAL

A ZAMBIAN magistrate on Friday committed 12 journalists from an independent newspaper who are facing espionage charges to the high court. The journalists from the Post newspaper, who include the managing director and editor, Fred M’membe, were separately arrested and charged with espionage, which carries a minimum jail term of twenty years, after their paper carried a story last month comparing Zambia’s military capabilities with those of its neighbour Angola. Prosecutor John Katongo told the court that the director of public prosecutions had agreed to have the journalists committed to the high court for the trial. The dates for the trial will be set during the next high court sitting which starts next month. Apart from M’membe, the journalists are Dickson Jere, Reuben Phiri, Brighton Phiri, Mukalya Nampito, Joe Kaunda, Macpherson Muyumba, Liseli Kayumba, Lubasi Katundu, Goodson Machona, Douglas Hapande and Kelvin Shimo.