The Socialist Party's answer to the Independence weekend came in two parts. On Sunday 25 October its president, Dr Fred M'membe, issued a statement in Lusaka condemning what he called the prolonged detention of opposition figures and government critics since the general election of 13 August. According to Zambia Monitor and the Zambian Observer, which both carried the statement, M'membe said Zambia could not describe itself as peaceful while constitutionalism, due process and the rule of law were being undermined, and that holding people beyond the 48 hours the Constitution allows, without a formal charge or a court appearance, raised serious questions about citizens' fundamental rights.
The 48-hour rule is not a mere procedural formality.
— Dr Fred M'membe, Socialist Party president, statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday 25 October, as carried by the Zambian Observer
M'membe described the rule as a safeguard against arbitrary state power and warned that detention without judicial oversight could create fear and instability and erode public confidence in law enforcement. He called on the Government and the police to halt what he termed arbitrary and prolonged detentions at once, and argued that an independent judiciary and a separation of powers were needed to keep the executive accountable. The Zambian Observer quoted him adding that the exercise of power must be a constant practice of self-limitation and modesty.
The statement did not, as reported, name the people it had in mind. Zambia Monitor's weekly round-up of Saturday 24 October gives some of the background: the State has denied violating the constitutional rights of Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu and 16 others accused of treason, arguing that the cases are complex and need extensive investigation, and Lima MP Kelvin Kaunda applied for bail pending trial on an assault charge after five days in police custody.
COMESA and the measure of a leader
The party's general secretary, Dr Cosmas Musumali, took a different line of attack in an interview on Friday 23 October reported by News Diggers and the Zambian Observer. Musumali said the election of President Hakainde Hichilema as vice-chairperson of COMESA on Thursday, alongside Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa as chairperson, was an opportunity for Zambia to raise its economic diplomacy. But he said the President had not yet matured into an African leader, because he had at times taken a contrary position on issues where most African countries held a different view.
The Government's reading of the same appointment was given in Parliament last week. Replying to Itezhi-Tezhi East MP Credo Nanjuwa during the Vice-President's Question Time, Vice-President Mutale Nalumango said the COMESA vice-chairmanship gave Zambia a chance to expand trade with member states and find markets for locally produced goods in a regional market of more than 680 million people, complementing the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Grow Zambia Agenda, the Times of Zambia reported.
'The best speech in 16 years'
The ruling party's account of the post-election period is sharply different from M'membe's. Debating the President's address to the first session of the 14th National Assembly on Thursday 22 October, Choma Central UPND MP Cornelius Mweetwa said no violence was recorded during the August elections apart from the chaos that followed Brian Mundubile's declaration that he had won the presidency, News Diggers reported. Mweetwa called the President's speech the best he had heard in 16 years and said it was soothing to hear him reaffirm his commitment to democracy.
The police, for their part, have promised even-handedness in the next test. In a statement on Saturday 24 October reported by Zambia Monitor, Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba said officers would act firmly and impartially against anyone breaking the law before the Mandevu by-election on 5 November, regardless of party, and that an alleged assault on suspected members of a political party in the constituency on 22 October would be investigated.
Sources: Zambia Monitor, “Zambia cannot claim to be peaceful when rule of law is undermined —M'membe” (25 Oct 2026); Zambian Observer, “M'membe condemns prolonged detention of opposition figures” (25 Oct 2026); News Diggers, “HH has not yet matured into an African leader – Musumali” (25 Oct 2026); News Diggers, “No violence was recorded during Aug elections – Mweetwa” (25 Oct 2026); Times of Zambia, “COMESA leadership key to regional trade – Veep” (24 Oct 2026); Zambia Monitor, “Auditor General flags K3.56bn in health sector debts as Hichilema warns officials over project delays. See our top 10 stories of the week.” (24 Oct 2026); Zambia Monitor, “Musamba warns against political violence ahead of Mandevu by-election” (24 Oct 2026).