Zambian police raid newspaper editor’s house, arrest wife

The police on Thursday raided the home of Fred M’membe, editor-in-chief of The Post, a Zambian newspaper, and arrested Mutinta, his wife.

M’membe, a staunch government critic, was abroad when the incident happened.

He has reportedly been at loggerheads with the administration of President Edgar Lungu of Zambia since the liquidation of the newspaper.

The publication was said to have been closed down on grounds that it had more than $4 million in tax arrears.

The raid followed M’membe’s moves to challenge the liquidation of the assets of The Post.

A witness said Mutinta, the proprietor of the Mast newspaper, got into an argument with the police officers, after which she tore the search warrant upon being denied entry into her residence.

According to witnesses, Mutinta was roughed up, and journalist Joan Chirwa was prevented from leaving the house during the raid.

More police reportedly arrived at the house.

“Police also tried to prevent the printing of The Mast, a newspaper launched by M’membe’s wife, but it was nevertheless on sale on the streets on Thursday morning,” witnesses said.

The Post had written critically about the government of Lungu.

According to a tweet by Slyvia Masebo, a close ally of the M’membes, Mutinta is currently detained at Force headquarters in Lusaka.

It is unclear why she was arrested but indications suggest charges are connected to the work of The Mast which has emerged as a critical voice following the closure of The Post.

Amnesty International has accused the government of trying to silence critical media.