He has applied to the high court in the capital, Lusaka, to be released or be charged. Richard Downes reports from Lusaka:

Opposition leaders meeting in Lusaka have postponed a planned meeting with Zambian President, Frederick Chiluba, in protest against the ongoing state of emergency in the country.

Most of the leaders of the small parties represented at the meeting said they feared arrest and detention.

The government and opposition are supposed to be co-operating on a new constitution for Zambia but they are fighting each other like never before.

Mr Kaunda, who remains the most visible and popular opposition leader, is being held in prison without trial and another important independent politician, Dean Mungo'mba, is languishing in jail with no charges having been brought against him.

Many detainees are being held in Kabwe prison in the central copper belt, the same jail where President Chiluba was jailed for trade union activities in the 1980s.

Opposition politicians say President Chiluba is vindictively pursuing vendettas against his opponents and is pushing Zambia towards open conflict.

The government has denied the opposition claims and says the state of emergency is necessary because the stability and sovereignty of Zambia is under threat.