Kalaba joins calls for unconditional release of Mukandila

Kalaba warned that if the State began questioning the citizenship of persons by descent simply because of place of birth, it would send the wrong signal to Zambians in the diaspora, including children of diplomats and public servants serving abroad.

“The exercise of public power must always be grounded in law, due process, and constitutionalism. Politics must never take us to a point where we become so vengeful that we begin weaponising State institutions against people with whom we disagree,” he said.

Kalaba further criticized the manner in which Mukandila’s documents were revoked, stating that public authorities acted without following lawful procedures or affording the individual a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

“Political differences are an essential part of democracy and must be confronted through debate and lawful democratic processes, not through intimidation, selective enforcement, or the abuse of public office,” he stated.

Kalaba directed part of his address to President Hakainde Hichilema, urging him to uphold constitutional principles and ensure that State institutions were not used to punish dissenting views.

He reminded the Head of State that presidential tenure was temporary while institutions must endure.

“Give Celestine Mukandila an opportunity to be heard and more importantly put a stop to declaring a man stateless simply because he holds contrary political views. That is what it means to be a democracy. People should not be punished for holding different political views,” Kalaba said.

On the international front, Kalaba acknowledged statements by the United Nations Special Rapporteur but said words alone were no longer sufficient and called for more concrete action given what he described as a shrinking democratic space.

“The time for quiet diplomacy or diplomatic observation has passed; the time for urgent intervention is now,” he said.

Kalaba reiterated his party’s demand for the release of all political detainees and an immediate return to constitutionalism, warning that silence risks normalizing a dangerous precedent for future generations.

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