Friday, March 29, 2024

Youths charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace for wearing T-shirts demanding a new constitution

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Youth from ActionAid leaving Lusaka Central Police shortly after release.they were arrested for wearing T-Shirts demanding for a new constitution
Youth from ActionAid leaving Lusaka Central Police shortly after release.they were arrested for wearing T-Shirts demanding for a new constitution

All the 42 youths that were picked up by police in Lusaka for wearing T-shirts demanding for a new constitution during Youth day celebrations have been charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.

Police spokesperson Charity Chanda however said the youths have all been released after being warned severely.

She also clarified that not all the 42 youths that were picked from Freedom Statue are from Action Aid as claimed.

Ms Chanda said police were picking youths that had placards and wearing T-shirts bearing the message calling for the release of the new constitution.

[pullquote]This action cast a serious indication that the PF wants to criminalize the calls to demand for a new constitution by the citizens[/pullquote]
Some of the messages on the T-shirts read” Give us a constitution now”.

Police confiscated all the T-shirts and placards from the youths.

But Action Aid Zambia Executive Director Pamela Chisanga has expressed shock that Police could detain innocent youths for demanding for a new constitution.

Ms. Chisanga said the Youths from Action Aid were peacefully marching alongside their colleagues from other organisations at the Freedom Statue when they were stopped and taken to Lusaka Central Police.

Meanwhile, Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali has condemned in the strongest terms possible the Police for arresting the youths who were wearing T-shirts with the messages demanding for the new Constitution.

Mr Tayali charged that the police action is a violation of human rights and Freedom of Expression.

“We are very disappointed, as an organization because we actually encouraged youths to be part of the events as a sign of unity and respect for those youths who fought for our Nation. We find it very strange that the Police decided to arrest the youth conveying a message through their regalia just like those from the ruling party PF. Worse off the youths from the ruling party took town center by storm singing and drinking,” he said.

Mr Tayali said, “This action cast a serious indication that the PF wants to criminalize the calls to demand for a new constitution by the citizens. This is an intimidation of citizens from demanding for their aspirations. These are signs of bad governance which the PF should be avoiding at all cost lest they are judged harshly by Zambians. We hope and pray that such an action of arresting youths on their day, or indeed any National event will not happen again.”

Youths from ActionAid calling their friends and family shortly after release from Lusaka Central Police
Youths from ActionAid calling their friends and family shortly after release from Lusaka Central Police
Youths from ActionAid heading to their bus after release from Lusaka Central Police
Youths from ActionAid heading to their bus after release from Lusaka Central Police
ouths from ActionAid boarding their bus shortly after release from Lusaka Central Police
ouths from ActionAid boarding their bus shortly after release from Lusaka Central Police

73 COMMENTS

  1. PF flexing muscles against girls! This is brutality of a kind. Any wonder Zambia’s human rights record is in shreds!

    • No amount of intimidation will stop Zambians from having their new comstitution. Ifikulu fyonse pa twaiche. The PF police cant even be ashamed of themselves. The Zambian people have spoken. With or without Sata, its new constitution.

    • Is it possible to sue the Police.We can not continue letting them come up with silly trumped up charges like this. Bachilamo! Do those young gilrs look like theyy can breach peace.It’s you the Police who are behaving in a conduct likely to breach peace.Having a useless female inspector general has been the worst thing that could happen to Zambia women.

    • Please get a damn good international lawyer to sue the police. These are rich youths now. Compensate them to the tune of $100,000.00 each for their troubles and infringement of their rights to freedom, forced detention/imprisonment/indignity and humiliation by police brutality. I could win this case in double quick time and I am not a lawyer. Based on today’s rate of our Mickey Mouse money ( $1 = KR5.94 ) that would give all 42 youths cool spending Kwacha for their education and a strong head-start in life. Brave kids! That will remind you to vote wisely next time! You cannot just sit in a corner and say “I don’t like politics” – well politics affect your life style and wellbeing as you have just seen. A vote not cast is a vote lost.

    • It is good to see the true youths demonstrating. People like Kambwili should realize that he is not a youth, just that he belongs to a party full of shikulus

    • DO THESE GIRLS EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION? THEY ARE JUST BEING GIVEN MONEY AND PROBABLY ABUSED TO DISTURB PEACE IN THE COUNTRY FOR BENEFIT OF HH AND THE LIKES. THE YOUTH IN ZAMBIA SHOULD REFUSE TO BE USED AND ABUSED BY POLITICIANS. INSTEAD THE HHs OF ZAMBIA SHOULD HELP THESE GIRLS SET UP BUSINESSES OR AT LEAST HELP THEM WITH WRITING PROPER BUSINESS PLANS FOR BORROWING MONEY TO SET UP BUSINESSES. THE HHs OF ZAMBIA SHOULD EMULATE THE ‘LIONS DEN’ OF BRITAIN. AND NOT SPONSORING YOUNG GIRLS FOR ANARCHY. BY THE WAY WHY SPONSOR ONLY GIRLS FOR ANARCHY AND NOT BOYS AS WELL? POLICE MUST INVESTIGATE THE EXTENT OF ABUSE.

    • @Peter- do you know anything about the constitution? The consititution is a vital component to the tenets of democracy! These young people deserve new way of thinking that probably elapsed your generation.

  2. Self Expression is now a crime under PF Government. It is now defined as conduct likely to breach peace. The only conduct that is not likely to breach peace is if you agree with everything this Kaponya government does. This is unacceptable

  3. Instead of waiting for the standard lawyers to defend these innocent kids in court, lets have someone SUE the STATE!!!! QUICKLY!!! NOW!!!!

  4. Every passing day brings more confirmation that the Police force is a compromised, unprofessional and unethical PF aligned and controlled wing. No amount of defending this blatant suppression of freedom of expression will exonerate them. I really dislike the Zambian Police with a passion. Absolutely disgusting!

  5. Is Action Aid an NGO or private company? Some NGos have gone political, their executives are using innocent people and their organisations to advance their personal political agendas. Some of these innocent youths are already in trouble with their parents for having participated in such actions. Action Aid must foot all the expenses to be incurred by these youths in the court process. Who funds Action Aid and what are their objectives? Action Aid MUST pay these innocent young people for using them.

    • Dont hide every wrong doing by the pathetic failure government and its PF policy under the political card. You just want to politicise everything. This has got nothing to do with political parties.

    • Waalasa mune. These characters called Action Aid are using the youth to achieve personal agendas. Meanwhile the debate in parliament failed because the MPs themselves found no need to rush the process. And I wonder which “people of Zambia” they keep referring to.

  6. Surprise! Surprise! Did you really think Sata will let Zambians exercise their right to express themselves?

    After spending 25 million Kwacha of taxpayers money to stop Zambian Watchdog?

    Do you still trust this man in State House? His own Vice President has publicly said he does not!

  7. PF is is an evil party including their useless police. what breach of peace are these girls or youths causing? you’re the ones causing confusion and lack of peace. your days are are numbered. Leave the youths alone. you won’t quench the spirit of revolution

  8. Before you do a thing think twice you should put the interest of the nation first not money where the money you got going to take you don’t be used by selfish leaders Youths think before you do something please you are the future leaders

    • @ masha muhango,
      and you expect future leaders to follow the example set by a useless bunch of failed geriatric liars which come to power by cheating?

      @one hit wonder,
      No, the bush is improvement for him. He should go back from where it comes, pit latrine.

  9. Iwe shushushu calling yourself as Action Aid should be ashed of yourself. We will raise money and support these girls in court from your corrupt PF and PF police state. Zambians say abash to dictatorship and oppression of freedom. Shame on you.

  10. Don’t even blame the government or the police just blame your selfish leaders who gave you money and you should ask yourself was the move taken by you fuss right how can you be used because of money

  11. This is remniscent of the KK wamuyaya days and a replica of the brutal Mugabe, Museveni and Kagame regimes. No dissent and brutalise ‘dissidents’.

    Does anyone out there really think Sata with the support of OP and ZP will step down even if he loses by a wider margin? Worse still, do you really think Sata and the cartel will ever contemplate relinquishing state power especially if HH and team win at the ballot?

  12. Those calling names for those who shunned the Youth celebrations,i think start condemning the President because he had shunned the youth day as well.

    I can imagine what would have happened if Youths for UPND and MMD attended the meeting with the thuggery character i saw with PF caders.
    If wearing a T.Shirt with constitution
    My beloved Zambia where are you taking us in this modern era?

  13. Ati Zambian Voice, what voice. Most of these NGOs are private companies masquerading as NGOs, nimwamene badwelela natubana twao.

  14. HH sponsored youths…
    wina a za nya…
    PF in power up to 2066…
    that’s 55 years or 11 terms if you understand the latter better…
    by then cowbell (HH) will have been long gone…

    • If only you knew how wealthy HH is, you would then know that he is in politics just for his conviction and NOT for money or prestige. According to Sata, the man(HH) has Kwacha Rebased 300+ million and 90 000 heads of cattle, real estate etc. HH can NEVER EVER be broke nor his childrens children great great grandchildren even if none of them ever added a ngwee to the wealth of this oligarch (HH).

      So die with your begging bowl and jealous and malice. HH will still be richer than any President (Sata included) even if that President served for 12 terms!!

    • That’s why you keep changing your name you axis of evil and preacher of doom. Throw away your loin cloth and stop playing catch the monkey up the trees to join the real defence league of the Zambian democracy. This is far from being a laughing matter! Would I rather add it would have been very laughable if it wasn’t so sad a day that our young and fragile democracy is now under threat.

  15. plz educate me here,can pipo eat the constitution.tok for other things like poverty.if u want to rule u can,t fail using the constitution as a hinderous.if GOD anoints u that u,ll be president for this country no one will stop u from becoming one.leave the dagga smokers alone if they think they,ll rule forever using the constitution.period

    • Hi more plans,
      You are dwarfed in thinking. Don’t you know that bad constitutions resulted in this poverty in Zambia? North Korea was poorer that Zambia but now is 1 million times richer. We no longer want mediocrity which you thrive on, CNP. We want new constitution as ZambianS. New constitution is not for HH or Sata, but for us all. The useless MPs are misdirecting resources in Zambia. Education is cheap in Zambia, please get back to school and learn to understand these basics.

  16. Even if Sata, Cartel Membe and PF deny Zambians the constitution,we shall not relent till we get a party that will facilitate a people driven constitution. History is our judge:

    1. In 1991 we rejected KK’s dictatorship based on a weak constitution.
    2. In 2000 we stopped FTJ’s attempt working with Sata to change consitution to allow a third term. Remember the Sata 3rd term t-shirts
    3. In 2011 we stopped RB from giving us an inadequate constitution.

    As in the past, so shall it be. I know that Zambia shall be saved!!

  17. BA LIBONGANI. Be a woman whose womb had once kept a baby for nine Months. That’s why it will take years for a woman to rule this country . NAngu mumushi indoshi iyanakshi yalibipisha ukchila iyaume . Stellah Libongani change your attitude . There were IGs Before , we are remaining with only 2 years before Jerico falls . You haer the heart of a snake .

  18. The PF is the only party which has shown kin interest in changing poverty levels of this country.
    These petty issues of new constitution are just A political strategy of a few selfish Zambians such as HH who doesn’t understand the constitution himself. Most of HH’s MPs are already in two terms of which it is disadvantaging them.
    That fellow HH who is sponsoring people like ‘By Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma’, whoever they are, wants to use poor Zambians gain political mileage and hence his businesses. He is the same one, without heart, who fueled the sale of Zambians companies.
    How can we trust the Bantustan HH?
    But thanks to Comrade Sata for reversing some of the evil decision made by these MMD minions and HH. Who ever thought of Zambian Railways to be back on Track, NCZ,…

    • @cobwebb whatever your name is. LOL, surely, you my friend your mind is heavily entangled and I am sorry to say you have hit the wrong forum. The Chinese suited black leaders membership forum is now headed by comrade Grey Zulu at this website: ww. straightjacket.com

      Bl00dy communist!

  19. this is real ignorance for sure! how can some one ask whether a constitution puts food on the table. even speakin confidently in ignorance. its realy a disease that needs attention! u see its the bigest issue we ve in most african nations, we re less informed. even thoz of us that claim to be informed, they fail to interpret the simple constitution. ask him a simple question about the impportance of the constitution to the citizens? he will say it wil not give me food. and they tok most. OH GOD!

  20. Who ever thought of Zambian Railways to be back on Track, NCZ, Zamtel, new roads everywhere, good infra structure, improved wage……
    The friends of HH the Indians are now doomed. They get happy to see Zambians suffer.
    I know the friends of HH and their evil plans….
    many Zambians will be displaced by his policies..Think twice fellow Zambians and lets support Comrade Sata for development cannot come in one day…

    • Cowbell I think you need to be educated , you don’t understand economics . Honestly you can talk about ZAMTEL as The workes they they will tell you . Talk about NCZ as sichinga why he is reshuffled . Ask hon Chikwa the ministry has No money it is now hand to mouth . What about the kwacha against the Dollar . Work up you satanist

  21. No one can stop an idea whose time has come. Be on the right side of history, otherwise you will be swept away by the tide. I am in Solidarity with the Activistas!

  22. Salaam too ignorant….
    Have you ever head of privatisation?
    HH and grant Thornton store the same moneys and manipulated issues to the riches which is making you now leaking HHs boot or even a**, you the same imbec*le arr poor today…
    myself am staying in woodlands comfortably with my white wife.
    at break fast I’ve eaten bacon, fish fillets, pizza and Vienna.
    don’t mention what uv eaten ill vomit…ie. kandolo, munkoyo in a tangy bottle…nsima pa make Alice…

    • @Magande. Am I ignorant? Let bloggers judge.

      I graduated from UNZA in late 80s. The winds of change swept KK in the 1990/1 uprising. Ronald Penza who was then Finance Minister after ba Kasonde appointed Valent.ine Chita.lu who had just participted in the Meridian BIAO scandal as CEO of ZPA. The massive waves of privatisation were done by Deloittes G. Soko.ta and T Mushibwe (bemba), KPMG’s Mtine (bemba), PWC Mazombwe (bemba) and to crown it all an incestous egegious dismantling of ZCCM was undertaken by F Kaunda (bemba). FTJ had refused to allocate any business to Grant Thornton and some elders brokered a meeting at State House where FTJ refused to shake HH hand. Bemba tribalism has been alive for a long time. Later G Thorton were given crumbs. Check ZPA archives.

    • @Magande. At a time when the fangs of poverty, hopelessness and despair on the back of grand lies have struck deep into the very souls of the bulk of our compatriots is not the time to boast of chicken flambe, wines and fine cuisine. You should be ashamed to even talk about your excesses in these calamitous times.

      You make a judgment of my economic status. I can only say it is true that I do not have as many farms, cattle, houses, vehicles and the bank balance HH has. And yet I would say that since I pay a MONTHLY tax to ZRA exceeding K80 000 (eghty million old currency) from multiple streams of income, it is a serious flaw in your judgment to call me of humble means. Or else what would our people in your definition be who dont even earn a gross of K10 000 per month?

    • Magande….ulichipuba ati…..”myself am staying in woodlands comfortably with my white wife.”

      Is a white wife a symbol of status for you. We chinangwa. Is your mother white. And are the Zambians who are married to their fellow black people from Luapula to kwahae in Barotse of low status?

      And who told you that there is anything significant about Woodlands or Sunningdale or kukabulonga or kunosimidi? Its just a place and that is not even a barometer of success much less joy and contentment.

    • Iwee willa to bepa white wife kwisa. That is your fantasy and you obviously live in a shanty poor thing go back where you crawled from useless!

  23. Don’t even mention about us…
    We will continue insulting Noahs government until it’s no more …
    those so called OP chaps have failed to block us.
    Our sponsor HH has given huge amounts of monetary bribes to those poor chaps even those close to the president such as chella.
    That Toyota voxy Ngenda is driving, chief analyst at state house, is what we paid him not to block us…

  24. I voted for the current president but the way his handling the Constitution is frightening,Arresting those innocent girls is tantamount to defilement.Come next week am coming back to Zambia to mobilize three million youths to wear those T.shirts lets see how you contend us.

  25. janza kumbele you are damn wrong, Zambians easily forget. 27 years KK tried to develop Zambia but spent much on liberating other countries . 20 year spent on demolishing what UNIP did focusing on enriching themselves. 47 years waisted. In 2 years you want more jobs, hospitals, schools, roads and wage increase . New constitution and by arm twist and anarchy. Three constitution making process in during MMD rule and no one matched of protested. Those girls arrested and released are unemployed and possibly un educated who are being used by NGOs whose motives are known. Don’t use innocent easily manipulated girls will little knowledge. If politics will be going at the rate surely one trigger happy person or people will trigger the worst volcano of violence.peace is hard to keep Easy to go

  26. i am shocked that a professional police service would arrest these brave and gallant youths. Taking this issue to court will be a scandal of the century. How the hell do you breach peace by demanding a constitution. Stella libongani is simply a stupid chap who cant use her head. Why is it that women in all strategic leadership positions are a scandal to say the least. Anyway, no magistrate worth his salt will even entertain this nosense. Case in point is kasonkomona.

  27. Zambians!!! it’s as if there has been no constitution in the past. Some people do not even know why they need one

  28. You are the Light of my World,
    The music in my heart and
    The first thought of my day.
    That’s why Sun Is Happy…
    Moon Is Angry
    Why…?
    Because, Moon Is Missing U
    & Sun Is Wishing U
    A Special Good Morming.
    Good Morning My Dear

  29. Zambian so called intelligence is some what hanging in balance. We will continue to insulting them…
    Viva HH

  30. We all need these amendments in the proposed constitution but why do people behave as though we do not have a function constitution? Its a matter of time. MMD was in power for 20 years, but never produced one. HH got all his questionable riches during the existing constitution, what is the hurry about ?????? Please don’t bring useless demos which may just risk our future. Look at Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Ukraine, Thailand & worst of it Syria. These are countries now driven back 60 years

  31. I feel a lot of pain in my heart. How can a normal police service arrest a young person for simply wearing a T-Shirt demanding a new constitution?Please release these young people unconditionally! If you are not careful you are now turning these young people into radicals.

  32. @SABINAH CHIWENO
    @salamat
    No matter how you bark at me, today you will buy kapenta and pamela from those whom you leak their boots. If they win tomorrow they will forget about you.
    You and I are the same ones who danced donchi kubeba the whole night. But look how he has turned his back on us. This cowbell (HH) is right.
    You guys njala ikuvutitsani.
    Come to 6 katemo Road in woodlands to get some relief..
    Remember, beware of dogs
    Oh I remember our team is playing, come help me watch on a 603cm HD 3D curved screen

  33. What a bunch of cowards these so called police. Why don’t you arrest someone your own size not children? Please sue their a$ses and then turn to court wearing exactly the same T-shirts. Let everyone show solidarity by wearing the same T-shirts. It’s the youth that turned hrut@l regimes such as the apartheid govt on it’s knees. So stand up and be counted.

    Fun these bunch of hypocrites will turn up at some meeting somewhere and encourage the youths to participate in the political process of their own country. But when they do, they end up being arrested. What a country!

  34. Pafwenamwine idi0t if those Indians and foreigners Sata is giving our land don’t pay your Salary, where do you run to, with a bad constitution, if you have a good constitution you are protected against such, we don’t want to continue being abused
    taken advantage of,marginalized, lied to. no no we need to upgrade our rights period.

  35. Why arrest innocent young ladies who were simply peceafull y asking our PF govt to accord zambians a people driven constitution.I suppose these young ladies needed police escort for them to express their humun right.Please let me remind our pf govt towards 2011 sept general elections we were promissed of the new constitution that what zambia pipo are demanding from our hard working govt.

  36. Small axe well spoken but do you think these young ladies could have been given escort when all the police officers are in bemba land fighting innocent bemba’s .

  37. The tragedy is that this is the same type of girls being found with old men in bars and night clubs around Lusaka. Interview all of those and find out if l am wrong.

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