The Zambia Police has advised members of the public to be responsible in the manner in which they express themselves on various issues.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani observed that of late members of the public especially those in politics have been misusing their freedom of expression through different media houses both from the print and electronic to issue statements with the potential to divide the country based on tribe, place of origin, race among others.
Ms. Libongani said the culture of careless utterances is undesirable as it has the potential of plunging the country into ethnic conflicts and public disorder.
In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, the Police Chief explained that statements of hate are not only unconstitutional but also amount to crimes as provided in the Zambian laws.
She said section 70(1) of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia prescribes expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for persons because of race, tribe, place of origin or colour.
Ms. Libongani cited the recent statements attributed to United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema when he made a contribution on Sky FM radio’s ‘Sky Forum’ on September 11 in which he said that some tribes have sworn to eliminate Tonga politicians as one such cases and described it as unpleasant.
She further implored Zambians with information regarding individuals planning to commit an offence to merely go and report to the Police or any other relevant law enforcement agency.
She disclosed that the issue members of public have been making reference to about people making oaths to eliminate others is a matter the police is currently investigating.
Ms. Libongani, however, said it is not the desire of the police to restrict members of the public from expressing their views but that if the views boarder on offences the police will not relent but will instead enforce the law.
ZANIS
Timely advice
She needs to have audience with Mumembe of the POST but obviously she can not because she knows she would be risking her job.
Bleng, The inspector General of Police is one lady who is very professional and hard working.You are saying she is risking her job ? you are not truthful yourself.
Dollar
#2.You have said it all.
I listened to the said programme.Post newspaper reported (1-2weeks later) in a manner they wanted the public to make opinions.They only quoted a feel sentences.Why didnt they publish the whole quotation so that people could judge for themselves?Moreover,a spade must be called a spade.I think that is what HH did on that fateful day.The recording is there at Sky FM.
Police dogs unleashed
Libongani refused to cite Godfrey Mwamba who issued a statement alleging that two retired generals have been given a K 100m each to kill the President. And I thought this was more alarming than what HH is alleged to have said. After all the talk that no Tonga will be allowed to rule the country is a public secret. You can include Lozis in that. In 1994 the current President admonished late Emmanuel Kasonde for wanting to sell the country to Lozi. Kasonde’s crime? He had joined the National Party then headed by Arthur Wina . So yobe Libongani we know how tribal the PF and it’s leader is.
HH is a good leader and can make a very brilliant and excellent president, if what was reported in the paper was true he needs to differentiate between individuals who are antagonizing him and generalizing all people  in a statement even though the rest of the people are innocent and like him. This also applies to the ruling party ,opposition parties and all Zambians .Let us all avoid generalizing issues based upon an experience with one or few people. We need the churches and NGO’s to also speak out. Lastly the issue of Barotseland needs to be resolved peacefully, churches and NGO’s need to play a critical role.
A lesson that leaders from the ruling and opposition parties can learn from is  how Obama handled and is handling the race issue during the pre election period and after. If Obama was preoccupied with the race issue he was never going to lead the USA, he instead focused and has focused on a message to unite the country.
So for HH (the crying boy) he doesnt see anything else beyond tribe. Shame. Very backward way of perceiving life
i can never allow my child to be a police officer. these officers are dull. how do you cite HH but you leave out GBM and Sekeni for authoring tongas on oath? even chuumbwe for threatening that they will evict UPND from their offices by force?. all this is violence. but the police has joined hands with the PF and the post to nail hakainde to the cross. this realy sad for our young democracy
Pf cadres like sichiinga bob and gbm are in the forefront and cobra himself
Gbm has been making alarming statements but he is not mentioned by this ugly cop. Hakainde is now treated like a public toilet where everybody who has some rubbish to throw goes. Kezeli you have lost it.
Being a policeman in Africa is the most stupid thing one can do because u become a dog that wags a tail to its master even when its being insulted. These chaps can be so dull in the name of pleasing those who feed them. If u have nothing to say just shut up your mouths instead of revealing your dullness to the publicÂ
They protect law and order. Otherwise lawlessness can prevail. When opposing you can do anything even the unlawed acts, thats why you must be kept in check, lest you disrupt peace. It obvious.
Really the Police are right. How can a person who want to be a national leader make such self de-campaigning statement? What HH said de-campaigned him because he isolated himself as a Tonga leader whom other tribes do not want in Zambia. Meaning that he can not work with other tribes and hence he has a big task to do in order for other tribes which want to eliminate Tongas to vote for him. HH should be so wise than just opening the mouth. He behaves as if Tongas alone can make him president of Zambia. Kaya bo HH????
report to the police? i do not think so, not when you are seen to be biased as seen from recent events.
It’s those in Govt.that are likely to bring confusion and not the party that has formed Govt.
I mean those political parties not in Govt are likely to cause confusion and not the party that has formed Govt
chibamba kanyama failed to televise the uefa champions league, seems znbc is going to the dogs with kanyama. This is the problem of having self proclaimed technocrats at the helm. We are now traeted to boring mexican movies, implying that znbc managemement has no initiative anymore. all they do is come up with under 5 excuses as to they failed, it has never happened in the history of znbc. The sooner the guy gets fired the better. He did same during euro 2012.
subscribe to multichoice then you will be watching UEFA league
FOR THE FIRST TIME THE POLICE ARE NOW PLAYING THEIR RIGHTFUL ROLE.
“PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE”, SO THE SAYING GOES.
THE RATE AT WHICH ALARMING STATEMENTS ARE BEING ISSUED IS ALARMING!!!
NOW THIS WARNING IS FOR BOTH PF MINISTERS AND CADRES AND THE OPPOSITION. POLICE PLEASE DO NOT BE SEEN TO BE TAKING SIDES!!!!!!!!
FOR THE FIRST TIME A GOOD JOB WELL DONE MADAM LIBONGANI!!!!!!!!
Libongani should also state that denying people their rights like free speech and assembly is also a crime. Warn Solomon Jere.
this is what happens when other have no regards to the opposition.they become full of themselves and think that power is an achievement and they all want us to bow before them.
Report to police! ha! are you still police or Satan’s dogs?Do you think HH can ever get a fair treatiment from you? Libongani, we are not as dull as you are.
The issue about no Tonga will rule this country is in public mind. Libongani prostitute did nothing. GBM and Saken published a Tonga uder Oath, a seditiuos material and she did nothing. This huerts me so much that i can kill.
She must first caution Zambia’s Minister of Defence for being the most useless and careless defence Minister Zambia has ever had,the man is the biggest alarmist in Zambia!!!!
THE IG IS USING DOUBLE STANDARDS. GBM GAVE FALSE INFORMATION THAT SOME RETIRED GENERALS AND OPPOSITION POLITICIANS WERE PLANNING TO ASSASINATE THE PRESIDENT AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANY COMMENT FROM THE POLICE HIGH COMMAND. WHAT IS GOING ON KANSHI?
The security wings should have details or profiles on their data base of all blogers peddling hate messages as they may need it in future. This is in view of the alarming rate at which things are degenerating.
Some bloggers cant even analyse things they just jusambit for the sake of talking pliz be mature guys tho every one has got his or her own opinion.Be positive realistic and dont criticize for the sake of criticizing.