A series of escalating violent attacks unleashed by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party during the Mkaika by-election have prompted the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR) to seek international sanctions against prominent members of the Zambian government.
Eyewitness reports and sources indicate to CDDR that on Sept. 4-5, a militia of PF cadres, allegedly organised under the direction of Defence Minister Geofrey Bwayla Mwamba and Deputy Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo, planned several premeditated violent attacks against supporters of the winning candidate.
“This is not the first, second, or third time the PF have incited political violence since coming to power, and the inability of the police to deliver any accountability means that we must target the assets and travel privileges of those responsible,” said Robert Amsterdam, international counsel to the CDDR. “We have a situation in which the ruling party is behaving as an criminal organisation, using violence, intimidation, and racketeering to infringe upon basic civil rights such as freedom of speech and assembly.”
According to evidence collected by the CDDR, late in the evening on Sept. 4 in Katete District, a PF militia attacked a group of Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) supporters, including Jeremiah Ndlovu, Abraham, and Michael Phiri. Mr. Phiri, who is the elder brother to the defeated PF candidate David Phiri, told local media that the PF militia abducted him by force and brought him to his father’s home, where the losing candidate was personally present to supervise the violent assault against his own family member.
According to witnesses, on the following day this same militia allegedly planned premeditated attack in Mkaika against the son of the former president Andrew Banda. In full view of members of media and eyewitnesses, the militia repeatedly assaulted Mr. Banda, using an axe as a weapon. Witnesses tell CDDR that several calls to the police to intervene were ignored. The next day, police prevented him from visiting the hospital for treatment of his injuries, placing him under arrest on assault charges.
“Full responsibility for these illegal acts of violence lie at the feet of President Michael Sata, who has never once spoken out against thuggish behaviour by PF cadres,” said Amsterdam. “It is clear that in the face of a landslide defeat in Mkaika, the PF does not offer ideas for leadership, but only resorts to brutal messages of intimidation.”
The CDDR announces that evidence of the criminal conduct of the PF will be presented in briefings filed before the United States government, the European Union, and other international organisations in order to explore possible sanctions against individual PF officials, such as travel restrictions.
More information about the CDDR, including the full report to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, can be read on http://cddr-zambia.org.
yaba its amsterdam whatever again!
i blame the ones who rush to this discredited liar.
their are better liars out there who can take on pf and win their cases than this one with sour grapes.
why don’t you just delete it all together if it is so offensive to you.
ba lt and their ‘under moderation’ thing is now becoming very unbecoming.
Dream on.The world is occupied with more serious issues like syria.Mkaika was relatively peaceful..Its can not warrant interanational sanctions.Who are advising you guys.This is now embarrasing.
Today is not just my day.
Check all my comments are sooooo bad. My apologies to all. I am not like Kabimba, when I am wrong I do back-off and reflect.
am in support.
reflect and come back with new and educative postings that you are re known of.
i will liken yours to a sabbatical leave.
wish you a good and sober reflection.
Niza, it is embarrassing to you because you are on the side of aggression. It is HOPE for those on the side of victims. We cannot wait until “enough” people die. We should act so that no one dies. No one is free to break the law or to threaten another’s wellbeing. The fact that you won elections doe not warrant you to do as you want. Live your life and let others live their’s.
A bunch of failiers. Do you even care for Zambians or you’re just advocating for more funding to however you report to?? You wont get anywhere we the opposition are happy with winning a number of seat recently. We are better off fighting than getting suctions which will affect all.
A bunch of failiers. Do you even care for Zambians or you’re just advocating for more funding to however you report to?? You wont get anywhere we the opposition are happy with winning a number of seats recently. We are better off fighting than getting sanctions which will affect all.
People read the articles carefully before unleashing your vernon . This group wants sanctions to be targeted at Sata, Kabimba, GBM ,Chibesakunda and some cadres. These are specific sanctions targeted at individuals and their immediate family members not the whole country, such as travel bans, seizing their financial and other assets in Europe ,Australia, South Africa and the USA. It is such targets that forced the likes of Mugabe to come to some arrangement with MDC. Right now Mugabe is in trouble trying incorporate MDC in his cabinet so that such sanctions are not effected on ZANU-PF members. Unfortunately MDC is unwilling.
I strongly support this brave move. May be these PF useful minions will learn a lesson or two after their animal behaviour is put under international scrutiny.
Despite violence being bad do CDDR honestly think the international community will sanction Zambia on what they would probably term “isolated” cases of violence?
The clueless foreign mercenaries have spoken. But is anyone listening?
Myabe we should start a NGO calling for sanctions against RB for his Mongu killings. He never spoke out against it…
If reall the violence took place then it’s sad that people here feel we shold keep quite because it’s isolated or the world is preoccupied with serious issues like Syria. Before you know it the violence would have gotten out of hand. If thsis is brought to the attention of the world, they may not act there and then, but next reports may make someone see red.
Folding hands is folly, all form of violence is bad and anyone dealing with it in view of mitigating it, should be supported or at the very least acknowledged.
That’s why the ICC should be left alone so that the culprits be brought to book after their tenure of office. We want a one Zambia which in unisone surports the Constitution.
when are going to change? lets see where this takes as.
Devils in human bodies at work. Amsterdum leave our affeirs alone. What can u tell us about USA and EU .Worst hypocrites of all time.
Osmore nabwela! boyi PF lost Nkaika seat
Winter June Kabimba does is a stupid useful person and he shall regret when he will be turned down like a useless log.
Atase bane this useless coward lawyer? Very rubbish rantings on his part. I would have taken it may be with a pinch of salt if it was any other person than this dull international con -lawyer. If the opposition continues walking with Armsterdam, they risk losing the 2016 elections. Because they are against Zambians, they are selling Zambians to this useless money lover Armsterdam…shaaaaa.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
Seriously, I think I support NIZA. You think the world has even noticed the pinch of violence as compared to other countries. I suggest you think of another excuse to attract the attention of the ‘international sanctioners’.
Lets talk about Football. Zambia vs Brazil
The issue here is wether you support the violence in Mkaika or not. Think of the people who lost their property and were maimed. The world should be alerted so that the powers that be reign in their cadres. Amsterdam and CDDR are right on!
A failed formula fr UNDP & RB to comonwealth.A shame campaignig aganst yr own table & finger whch feeds u!