Post Newspapers managing editor and owner, Fred Membe, has been formally charged and arrested by police in Lusaka.
Police spokesperson, Charity Munganga Chanda, confirmed to Breeze News, that Mr. Mmembe was arrested together with journalist, Funga Mukosha, for publishing classified information, contrary to the security act of the laws of Zambia.
Ms. Chanda says that the arrest is in connection with an article published in the Post Newspaper on April 17, 2015.
She explained that the article stated that the Anti-Corruption Commission director general had written to the president, informing him that the ACC was investigating, special assistant to the President for political affairs, Kaizer Zulu, for soliciting for one million US dollars from a Chinese contractor in order for him to fix an appointment with the president.
Ms. Chanda says that they both denied the charges, but were taken straight from the police to the court.
Meanwhile the dual has been remanded in custody pending ruling on a bail application made by the accused’s counsel.
This followed an objection by the state stating that the matter was triable by the high court and was only before the court for mention.
In response, counsel for the defendant noted that the state’s objection had nothing to do with the accused’s conduct.
Magistrate Chitalu has since adjourned the matter to tomorrow, Friday July 17, 2015 at 09:00 for ruling on the bail application in order for him to research on the matter.