Liberal Democrats presidential candidate, Chungu, re-arrested minutes after Court ordered release

The legal team of Xavier Chungu, presidential candidate for the Liberal Democrats, has confirmed that their client was rearrested Saturday shortly after his release from police custody. He was released earlier Saturday to enable him to resume campaigning ahead of the forthcoming presidential election. However, upon release, authorities immediately served Chungu with additional charges, which now stand alongside the 11 counts he was already facing.

His legal team said it was reviewing the new charges and would respond accordingly through the appropriate legal channels. ‎Chungu maintains his innocence and his right to campaign freely as a presidential candidate under the presumption of innocence. “Further updates will be provided as the situation develops,” the legal team said.

Zambia Monitor had this week reported that Police in Lusaka had formally charged Chungu for multiple offences, including violations of the State Security Act and Penal Code. Police Spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi said Chungu, the New Liberal Democrats Party leader, faced seven counts of Communication of Certain Information contrary to Section 4(1) of the State Security Act, Chapter 111.Chilabi confirmed this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday. Chungu was also charged with three counts of Seditious Practices contrary to Section 57 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87, and one count of Prohibition of Publication or Disclosure of Information to an Unauthorised Person under the Zambia Security Intelligence Service Act, Chapter 109.

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He said the charges related to allegations that on May 24, 2026, between 16:00 and 18:00 hours, in New Kasama, Lusaka, Chungu disclosed confidential information obtained through his official duties and uttered seditious words. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.

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