Police warn and caution M’membe’s wife over The Mast newspaper

Police in Lusaka have warned and cautioned Mutinta Mazoka M’membe, the wife of Former Post Newspaper editor-in-chief Fred M’membe, over copyright infringement allegations.

Mrs M’membe, who is one of the directors of Oracle Media, a company that publishes the newly launched The Mast newspaper, was summoned to appear at Police Headquarters at 09:00 hours and was later joined by UPND vice-president for administration Geoffrey Mwamba and party officials Sylvia Masebo and Martha Mushipe who came to offer solidarity.

The police’s action follows a complaint by the Provisional Liquidator of the Post Newspaper in Liquidation Lewis Mosho that the people behind the Mast Newspaper are infringing copy rights of the Post Newspaper in Liquidation.

Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo confirmed this to journalists in Lusaka. She however declined to give further details on the matter.

And speaking to journalists afterwards, Mrs M’membe expressed shocked at the police’s action, saying as far as she is concerned the publication is a legal one with all the right documentation in place.

She wondered why she was summoned by police over a case of infringement of copyright on the Post Newspaper in liquidation which she has nothing to do with.

Mrs M’membe accused the PF government of suffocating the press, further pointing out that if the paper was a praise singer of those in power there would be no persecution.

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the Zambia Police was investigating a case of Copy right infringement following a complaint by the Provisional Liquidator of the Post Newspaper in Liquidation.