Lawyers Give UPND Media Director 48 Hours to Retract statements questioning Augustine Mukoka’s nationality

Legal practitioners representing veteran journalist and governance advocate Augustine Mukoka have formally issued a strict 48-hour ultimatum to United Party for National Development (UPND) Media Director Mark Simuuwe, demanding an unequivocal retraction of statements that question Mukoka's citizenship. The controversy erupted following online publications on social media platforms alleging that Mukoka is of Congolese origin and demanding that he refrain from participating in national discourse or commenting on Zambian political and governance affairs. In a demand letter issued by Mulunda and Company Legal Practitioners, the legal team condemned the remarks as malicious, defamatory, and amounting to cyber harassment directed not only at Mukoka but also extending to members of his family. Mr. Mukoka, a well-known media figure who frequently critiques governance and electoral matters in Zambia, has rejected the allegations in their entirety. His legal counsel stressed that citizenship and identity documentation issues cannot be tried in the court of public opinion or weaponized as political tools to silence dissenting voices. The lawyers argued that if any individual harbors genuine, verifiable concerns regarding a person's nationality or adherence to Zambian immigration laws, standard legal channels and statutory bodies such as the Department of Immigration should be engaged, rather than resorting to targeted online attacks designed to diminish personal dignity and curtail constitutional freedoms. The unfolding saga has reignited broader national conversations regarding the intersection of digital media, political intolerance, and freedom of expression in Zambia's increasingly charged political landscape. Observers note that political operatives frequently utilize social media channels to discredit independent analysts, civil society actors, and journalists whose commentaries challenge the ruling establishment. By dragging family members into political disputes and