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POLICE yesterday recorded warn and caution statements from The Post Newspaper Limited proprietor Fred M’membe and reporter Mukosha Funga for allegedly publishing classified Government information in breach of the State Security Act.
On Monday, police summoned Mr M’membe and his two reporters Kombe Mataka and Ms Funga for questioning at Lusaka’s Woodlands Police Station.
Mr M’membe, 56, of plot 7345 Nangwenya Road in Lusaka’s Rhodes Park, arrived at Woodlands Police Station around 09:00 hours in the company of Ms Mataka, 32, Ms Funga, 24, and his lawyers Nchima Nchito, Fynod Mufwafwi and Philemon Songolo.
Mr M’membe and Ms Funga were questioned for over an hour.
Police deputy spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said in an interview shortly after Mr M’membe and Ms Funga were questioned that the two are being investigated for alleged publication of classified information.
Mr Hamoonga said this is in connection with the publication of classified information contrary to Section 35 Chapter 111 of the State Security Act of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that Mr M’membe, Ms Mataka and Ms Funga, on April 17 this year, published a story headlined ‘Lungu adviser under bribery probe’.
“In the story, they were referring to a letter which was addressed to President Lungu from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Rosewin Wandi, which was a classified document.
“We did not record any statement from Ms Mataka because she is pregnant and there was a request from the lawyer that she is not feeling well but we will question her when she is okay at a later stage,” Mr Hamoonga said.
He said laws are written and meant to be followed.
Mr Hamoonga said police will inform the public when investigations into the matter are concluded.
“If we find them wanting, we will effect an arrest and if not, they will be free but we will ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated,” Mr Hamoonga said
And speaking to journalists on behalf of Mr M’membe, Mr Mufwafwi said warn and caution statements were recorded regarding a story that was published in the newspaper on Special assistant to the President for political affairs Kaizer Zulu in which he is alleged to have received a US$200,000 bribe from a Chinese man in exchange for a meeting with the President.
When asked if the interview had anything to do with the US$192 million loan contracted from China to improve state security, Mr Mufwafwi refused to comment.
Znbc
