Police arrest Zambia opposition lawyer over possession of seditious materials

Police in Zambia on Tuesday arrested a lawyer of the main opposition political party and charged her for being in possession of seditious materials.

Martha Mushipe, lawyer of the United Party for National Development, was arrested on Tuesday morning when she appeared at a police station in Lusaka, the country's capital where she was summoned, the party said in a statement.

Police had summoned her over a document which was confiscated from her office early this year.

She has since been released on bail after appearing in court, the party added.

During last month's general elections, the lawyer publicly told off officials from the Electoral Commission of Zambia after reports that the electoral body had connived with the ruling party to manipulate the presidential results.

She was also one of the lawyers who represented the opposition party during a petition of the presidential results and openly told off the judges over their alleged bias in the matter which was later thrown out.

The party claimed in the statement that the arrest was part of a ploy to disorganize the opposition party, adding that more party officials and sympathizers will be arrested.

Last week, the police arrested former Zambian Vice President Nevers Mumba who campaigned for the opposition party for allegedly storming into the newsroom of the state broadcaster and allegedly threatening reports over a story. Endit