SIMUMBA CHARGED WITH SEDITIOUS PRACTICES, POLICE CONFIRM
Newly elected Mwenzo Member of Parliament and former Nakonde MP Luka Simumba has been charged with seditious practices, the Zambia Police Service has confirmed.
Mr Simumba was arrested and detained on August 16, 2026, two days after his election victory in the Mwenzo Constituency.
He was arrested together with 2 other people from Nakonde, among them his driver.
The three were later formally arrested and charged before being transported from Chinsali to Lusaka.
Since his detention, there has been limited information regarding the case, including the specific allegations against the suspects.
However, following several follow-ups and queries by Chete FM to the Zambia Police Service at both provincial and headquarters level, Police Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi has confirmed that Mr Simumba is facing a charge of seditious practices.
Mr Chilabi, however, did not disclose which specific act allegedly committed by Mr Simumba forms the basis of the charge.
He also confirmed that the two other people arrested with Mr Simumba are facing a separate charge, but did not at the time of the querry disclose what that charge is.
Chete FM has made several attempts to obtain further details from Police Headquarters, but the only confirmation so far is the charge of seditious practices against Mr Simumba.
Attempts to get a comment from Mr Simumba’s lawyers have also not yet been successful.
Seditious practices are provided for under Section 57 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
In simple terms, the law covers certain acts, words or publications considered to have a seditious intention, such as encouraging the unlawful overthrow of Government, creating hatred or disaffection against Government, encouraging violence or public disorder, or promoting hostility between different groups.
Section 60 of the Penal Code further explains a seditious intention, including an intention “to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the Government as by law established” or “to raise discontent or disaffection among the people of Zambia.”
However, the law also makes clear that certain lawful criticism of Government or efforts to point out errors or defects with a view to reform do not, by themselves, constitute a seditious intention.
For a first offence under Section 57(1), a person convicted of seditious practices is liable to Imprisonment for a period not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding 3000 penalty units (K1,200).
Chete FM
