Prime TV proprietor Gerald Shawa says police have arrested TV news analyst Mark Simuwe on unexplained charges.

Explaining the development to News Diggers! Shawa said he was not aware of the reporter’s whereabouts, adding that reports suggest he was taken to Nakonde where he was allegedly charged with smuggling a car four years ago.

“Mr. Simuwe was arrested at the University of Zambia and briefly detained at hands worth police post. According to information obtained, Mr. Simuwe has been accused of having smuggled a BMW car into Lusaka from Nakonde in 2013. Mr. Simuwe was reported to have been detained at central police station but a check at the police station revealed that he was not there,” Shawa stated.

“Later it was learnt that Mr. Simuwe has been taken to Nakonde over the same charge. But when contacted for a comment Police spokesperson Ester Mwata Katongo said she had not yet received a report regarding Mr. Simuwe’s arrest.”

Shawa stated that earlier this year Simuwe was abducted and beaten by unknown people.

“Early this year Mr. Simuwe was abducted and beaten and later left for dead in a drainage within Lusaka by unknown people,” stated Shawa.

“And speaking in an interview with Prime TV news, a lady by the name of Eunice Simpalo, who accompanied Mr. Simuwe at the police post explained that Mr. Simuwe’s Lawyers were never given any chance to say anything as the reporter was bundled in a small vehicle and driven away.