POLICE yesterday arrested nine motorists among them two Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament (MPs) for honking.
Mandevu MP Jean Kapata and her Munali counterpart, Mumbi Phiri were arrested with seven other motorists after they were allegedly found honking in Lusaka following the resolution by 17 Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) to do so in protest against former President Frederick Chiluba’s acquittal.
Police service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso who confirmed the arrest said the nine were in police custody awaiting court appearance next week.
They were charged with conduct likely to breach public peace and unnecessary hooting contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Mr Kapeso said the motor vehicles belonging to the suspects were impounded by the police.
He said the idea of hooting was disturbing, threatening and inconveniencing to other motorists who were likely to be distracted and cause accidents.
Mr Kapeso warned that the police service would next Friday be more organised and urged peace-loving motorists to stay away from the planned honking.
Hooting was mostly concentrated in Lusaka’s Cairo and Chachacha roads although police were placed in strategic areas in the town centre. No honking took place on the Copperbelt.
Meanwhile, MMD youths in Lusaka have condemned some donors and civil society organisations for planning to honk and engage other activities to discredit the Government.
MMD Lusaka Central Constituency youth publicity secretary, Elijah Manda said in an interview in Lusaka the planned demonstrations were not aimed at Dr Chiluba’s acquittal but at denting President Rupiah Banda’s leadership.
And chiefs In Luapula have advised all those accusing Mr Banda of facilitating the acquittal of Dr Chiluba to stop and instead respect the court’s decision.
In a statement to ZANIS in Mansa yesterday, incoming Provincial Chiefs Council Chairperson, Chief Chisunka said the traditional rulers feel Dr Chiluba had suffered enough humiliation and tribulation since he was charged with the cases eight years ago.
The chiefs cautioned all those planning to demonstrate against Dr Chiluba’s acquittal not to extend the demonstrations to Luapula Province because people there were not in support of such demonstrations.
And The Copperbelt Welfare and Environmental Protection Association has said it is appalled by sentiments and actions of the 17 civil society organisations and some diplomats to bring down a legitimate Government.
Association president Sydney Njamba said in a statement that he was particularly worried that the NGOs were promoting activities which could lead to anarchy
[Times of Zambia]
Bullshit. The zambia police is the worst in the world. Let then hunt down criminals instead of innocent citizens exercising their freedom of expression
Bushe, tapaba ama tafe pa Zed? Surely the whole country is failing to kick start a civic uproar? Am dashed beyond…..
Ba bujyu mulebomfya umutwe mwalisambilila, banshi abanthu muleikata, tamukwete ifyakucita?
Sorry that these guys arrested are doing it for all of us, GRZ are late.We support them and we will be with them in spirit, Go Go Zambia forward
Too many cowards in Zed …. keep the chaps for some days at chimbokaila and they them get married and they will learn…Why cant mmembe, Reuben Lifuka or Mulafulafu or father Bwalya go and honk openly in front of ZP HQ if they have nerve ..
the mythical paraparas are itching to sort out some cowards . . . .keep them in court as much as possible.
this is what every politician need to know -the people now are civil .the know when to protest .they know when to cry foul .kaunda suppressed the country for too long that even the currentpolitician fail to see that things have changed .people are now participating in decision making over their affairs and if it means participation is honking -so be it.and for the chiefs please keep queit.we are in a mess today because your system of governance failed us and africa,so who would listen to you .you know fackoo about democracy just sit and learn as you delude yourselfs that you run the affairs of the people
Goodmorning bloggers
This is ridiculous. They should be asking themselves why the people resort to such means of demonstration instead. You don’t take people for granted in the name of the law.
wow! i guess they will arrest all those wedding processions too!
This is the worst form of cadre behaviour being exhibited by the police service. It appears and continues to prove that it’s the worst compromised wing in the Govt system. People are crying day & night for police protection from thugs & robbers, the only response u get is that “Tilibe Transport kuno bwelani mutitenga”! Yet quick to intervene when the fat belly says arrest all those opposing my moves. The reasons being advanced by this Kapeso Cadre are so baseless. How can he say honking causes disturbances and can result in accidents? Well, if that’s the case, ARREST all those motorists we see on weekends going for wedding ceremonies. It’s equally NOISE MR. cadre! Arrest all the bus drivers who honk for passengers coz they’ll cause accidents. Very silly & insulting to say the least!
WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!
What ever happened to freedom of speech?
Are people not allowed to express their views freely, without fear?
Should we just accept every decision made by the Government “the Courts”?
what voice do the electorate or stakeholders have if they cannot even speak out against what they feel are incorrect decisions?
Nobody is throwing stones, burning houses, shops or anything that silly, we are merely speaking out as it should be in a REAL DEMOCRACY!
We honked against FTJ’s third term, why not, is Zambia not a democracy? As long as people are not rioting or fighting, they can honk.
Sad state of affairs pa Zed. Soon and very soon we are going to be another Zimbabwe.
These senior police officers thet know their tim is up and what ever they are doing will costy them dearly when the MMD is kicked in their bums out of office. People demonstrate when they are fedup with lies. unfair distrubution of national resources, unsocial justice, nepotism,
unlistening govt of corrupt leaders. The police are the worst culprit and unprofessional in the world. What do you expect from grade sevens and bashibuka entrants. They have got no senses only in their knees. Look the police force in UK they refuse to accept political influence in their duties. Progressive people will not fear the police because they are rubbish unprofessional and dirty in excuting their duties. No wonder they even shoot at people carelessly. They live in dirty houses more than shanty compounds.
Jedes Ding hat drei Seiten, eine positive, eine negative und eine komische. -Karl Valentin
Everything has 3 sides, a positive,a negative and a funny side. -Karl Valentin
money has miracles.changes people’s thoughts
In Zambia we have an introduction to tyranny by Rupiah’s government. Police should not think Zambians are fools, they will reach an end point as in titration, if police officers do remember any basic chemistry. Days are numbered, but our docility also self defeating, God knows.
What evidence will be produced in court? I am just curious….
Willst du Menschen führen – so gehe hinter ihnen her (Laotse)
If you want to control people, you have to run after them (Laotse)
When leaders surround themselves with wolves masquarading as sheep, the nation has a problem. Every Jim and Jack within MMD who call themselves leaders are issuing statements which are contradictory. Discipline is lacking, no one seems to be in charge. The whole thing is chaotic. The fall of an empire.
Hee….what evidence do you have against them? honking?? oh my foot and nose!!!!! Kapeso, know that gone are days when zambia had neducated people who never understood law and constitution of the country. To day Zambians are enlightened and cant be cheated or trampled upon any how. COME NEXT WEEK FRIDAY MORE WILL HONK HONK. I wish I were there to honk honk. you d.u.l.l creatures your time of reckoning is nigh.
Its unfortunate to allow police to engage in political activities. Police are there to serve all Zambians and enforce the law. For them to become political agents is unprofessional and totally unacceptable.
Be sensible and follow the Law and stop blaming the Police.
Daniel you are very dull, you mean everytihng id fine with you. Wake up
Please prison warders, dedicate HIV convicts sexually starved to have Mumbi and Kapata personal to holder for self relief.
Daniel you are very dull and mad Wake up
You can really see how some people in this country have cultures weddd to stealing, how can these “chieves” claim this thief has suffered enough? Luapula is one of the poorest provinces in this country and most of the money if not all the money this pygmy stole was generated from other provinces. If this is what they want to be like, then we should just federalise this country because being in the same country with a culturally thieving lot like this gang is recipe for Zairianization, pure one way road to underdevelopment>
These bujus are hopeless. FTJ stole money thatas a result saw them going back to near-stone age standards. We will honk again ! FTJ is a THIEF
Honking is now against the law in Zambia. If you honk you are breaching the peace. Next will be headlights.
Zambia must know that the whole world knows what is happening in Zambia.. we the people out side Zambia we do moarn with zambians in this poverty ; our leaders who do not mind weather people have food or not who allow individuals to take from the poor to enrich themselves while the marjority starve to the bone
What is the charge? A cooked up charge? Whats wrong with me hooting? unless they tie it to noise pollution..which charge they have never used before.
this is stupidity honestly! Do the police know that, they get peanuts because people like Chiluba ripped the country of the much needed resources. Those nine patriotic Zambians arrested were protesting for the same policemen who arrested them. I think we need to move the control of the police force from the hands of the executive. The police chief should not be appointed by the president but instead by some other body and he/she must be approved by a parliamentary committee sworn in by the chief justice. Then every city should have some kind of police department that is headed by the city chief who is answerable to the city council board. That way we wont be getting cadre mentality in the police force. because this is really ridiculous!
LT you moderate words like S.T.U.P.I.D.T.Y. MAYBE YOU NEED TO CHECK THE MEANING OF THAT WORD, ITS NOT A BAD WORD LIKE THE F WORD! EVEN THE BIBLE USES WORD LIKE S.T.U.P.I.T AND F.O.O.L!
Is Mwamba luchembe still around in zambia?
We need “REGIME CHANGE” in Zambia even before 2011.
Can somebody help the Zambians from this dictatorship.
The wait and see mentality of the United States and European Union is what led to the florishing of Mugabe in Zimbabwe.
Time to Act is now before our hard won democracy is totally destroyed by these thieves and cowards in the MMD. Abash intimidation and government persecution of innocent citizens!!!!!!!!1111
Zambia police are the main tool of injustice in the country.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEE HHHHH WE WILL NOW HONK SPONTANEOUSLY TAKULI KUBEBA ….DONT ANNOUNCE JUST START AND EVERYONE WILL FOLLOW…SIMPLE …NOT UKUTINA…PIPO LIKE GBM ARE DOING THEIR PART SO LETS ALL BAND TOGETHER… OWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !
I AGREE #37 THE HONKING SHOULD BE SPONTANEOUS NOT PLANNED.OR IF PLANNED IT SHOULD BE SECRECTLY PASSED SOMETIMES LEAK A FAKE TIME SO POLICE GO AND FIND NO HONKING THEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT WATCHING HONK LIKE CRAAZZZY!!!!
This is a meaningless, useless, waste of time and a move befitting the likes of the the two arrested PF MP. I am sometimes overcome by the lack of direction that is perpetrated by a few outspoken and sightless militants. Of all the competing issues that this country is faced with are you suggesting that this is the most pressing one. There are, I believe better more urgent political issues; the ncc issues. I hope no Zambian youth is being modelled after these unproductive schemes that are only serving politicians that are in transit to extinction. I feel sorry for HH. He decides to be identified with a man who has already lived 85% of his life. Please somebody tell HH he can do better. The political fundamentals have changed, it is time to get back to the drawing board.
Those arrested can simply argue in court that they were honking at a careless driver or pedestrian and not in protest against Chiluba’s acquittal. What evidence are the police prosecutors going to to adduce to prove otherwise? This will turn out to a fruitless and frustrating case to prosecute and an unnecessary waste of state resources.
Max,
The overal objective will be realized by the fact that these criminals will not come out same any more. Three nights in our jails is enough to be released and expedite the process of putting wills and other custodial paper work not bin place yet. PF has to start preparing for bye-elections considering the already failed health of its two criminals.You know such detentials are dedicated to experts for quick fix.Had Dean Mung’omba betrayed by Dr.Derrick Chitala had not gone in, he could be ruled instead of Mwanawasa.By the time he was coming out, he had lost all the millions of Dollars, wife and children but left with human shell in him awaiting death.The few days My husband Sata spend in Chimbokaila left a clogged heart now surviving on pace setters in his arteries.
Personalised question for Chola Mukanga the official PF party representative cadre in London UK.Sir, could you clear our fear why your party PF Constitution, Chapter 1 article 3 stipulates in part that Public institutions are going to be headed by members of PF”.Is your passion to take the PF official cadre representative role in London,UK driven by a sense of patronage miracles may present you???????
Those with law knowledge, peruse the books and establish if there is any breach for honking. For all I know, you honk to alert other motorists or pedestrians not only for danger but other purposes as well. What do you think? To me it is a waste of time, money, and resources to arrest these people. Suppose people choose to wear a band of some color on their arms, will they be arrested? Probably we should wear a necklace of some kind as a symbol for solidarity.
They should start arresting taxi drivers as well. Honking in zambia has always been there. What kind of unprofessional policemen do we have in zambia. When are they going to learn that their job is not to impress the president but to protect the law genuinely. Everytime one reads about Bonny Kapeso confirming the arrest, the it has to do with targeting certain people. Mr Kapeso, be professional!! You’ve made a fool of yourself for too long. RB won’t be there forever.
Blahblah from the head the head of stete to the bwana in the condom/uniform.Nothing comstructive has ever come out from their speaches as all they are after is to opress. Deleted by myself.
Pipo torn down pleze because police officers are just civil severnts to save the gorvnment of the day. It is not right to think that they can choose to arrest or not .It is job and once given instructions by the snr pipo they have no option. As police they choose to work or loose their jobs.Are u you going to take their children to school? Bloggers u should stop kidding here.You kno why the problem is there because of being passive.The solution is to change the laws, in this case police to be indepent.You were there when it was time to change or submit to CRC and u were bussy blogging rubbish and today u say kapokola is grde 7 and lives in dirty houses amanobubi.Do smthing about change go to court and file the injuction not blogging ,it will change nothing.
What kind of Judiciary in Zambia, one which not independent but is situated in State House.., we have a I have missed this one as the previous ones, I had enjoyed them..If this Dr FTJ is being set free, then why did demonstrate for the removal of his immunity??
That is why I love Zambia, when things are going wrong there is no silence, we always find a way to express our freedom.. That is a messages to the people who want to be in power, the opposition parties..
This idea of voting for people we don’t know will always kill us in Zambia.. I believe a person first be an MP to stand for presidential candidacy , because we don’t know these people.. And what they can do..
KEEP HONKING OR JUST STOP AND STAND STILL FOR A MINUTE OR SO! MPEE MPEE MPEE
Since when is “unnecessary honking” against the laws of Zambia? Ni ka admission of guilty, 68 pin fine, chapwa, not ku manga bantu atase
Wow…this is very disturbing leaves one speechless. Funny how Chiluba is successfully tying RB govt to his corruption case. Using all RB’s media, mmd party, PR, popo, govt officials and even pharisees to get his way. How ironic. The popo are ready to break a demo using honking against Kafupi. However, I haven’t read anything discouraging the protests against a British diplomat. What has more repercussions to Zambia’s economy internationally and at home? How ironic. I just read a few weeks ago policemen did not even have water in Mazabuka…. they could not use their toilets. The popo seem to find ways to stop peaceful demonstrations to stop Kafupi corruption cases.Maybe they enjoy hearing the popo in Mazabuka are using the bush as toilets. People should suffer in silence. How…
#40 Max, Kaseba Sata (41) has given you the correct answer. I can assure you that a spell in the police coolers just for honking is not pleasant. You do not have to go far. Ask PF cadres Mumbi Phiti and Jean Kapata. Just one night in and they feigned high blood pressure, diabetes. I bet they will be nowhere near the streets of Lusaka next Friday because according to the law, repeat offenders do not get leniency. But for the likes of you my friend when you go in for honking, these same illnesses will not be acceptable for getting you out. You see those two cadres have priviledges that you will never dream off. Mulafulafu should tell you that if he is honest.
Even in class noise making is punishable. Why? Because learning (development) requires a serious and tranquil environment. Haven’t you ever wondered why empty tins do not achieve progress in life? They are only useful and always used to achieve the objectives of other more clever members of society. It is called the horse and the rider relationship.
Those of you wondering whether honking is a crime, please realize that this was an organized demonstration. In the absence of a permit it is unlawful assembly or public nuisance (subject to guidance here by the learned colleagues). So, the main problem here is the absence of a police permit. Whilst it is a basic right for citizens to assemble, I am appalled by the logic of organizing a demonstration when the President is out of the country. This is extremely dangerous.
#53 Out of curiosity please advise the public on this scenario. In the case where a permit is being given to pro Chiluba protests but not to anti Chiluba protests. What can the public do? In my humble opinion freedom of speech is not being exercised.for one sector of the society. God bless Zambia. Honking in comparison to other countries reactions to situations is peaceful.
rb is really sending our zambia to the dogs. in my opinion, he is a DOG, something must be done.
Taxi drivers getting free fuel to go into town and honk. Whose paying for this free fuel. If indeed one is agrieved, does he need someone to give him free fuel for him to go and express his anger. The post newspaper and Michael Satas of this world have failed in their quest to incite Zambians to rise against the Government and have now resorted to bringing in Donors. The two lady MPs are a disgress, What we need is effective representation which will benefit the Zambian people and not this foolishness we are witnessing. For heaven sake lets move on. Chiluba may be aquitted by our courts of law, but if indeed he stole from the Zambian people, he will be delt with effectively by the most high.
A lion is known by its looks not by trying to put your hands in its mouth. If you are bitten dont cry foul. Why should innocent people suffer for the sake of the sculpulous NGO’s. Whoever has never committed a sin should do what the NGO are asking people to do.
Gentelemen, lets not waste time on silly things. You should know that whatever man fails, God can correct. God is the only chief judge. Innocent people have been sentenced to death for their failure to impress the high court judges, but one day God will judge. Remember, those who kill by the sword will be killed by the sword. NGO are the worst thieves, they get money from donors only to be spent in personal businesses. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Things are getting more and more confusing. Is this news about Zambia or Zimbabwe? Cause as far as I can recall, Levy kept as far away as possible from Zim, but the current leaders are not only embracing it, they’re even adopting the ways of Mugabe in their paranoia.
Release them please
Some bloggers do not realise having no accountability with Zambian leaders (presidents) can make the future generation continue the practice. Look at Congo and Zimbabwe….Leaders lead by example.
Natalie.Rb,Kaseba Sata represent fools that are roaming around,and not caring for this lovely country which is being raped by their associate RB.Why should the whole sate machinery be preoccupied with voices of dissent instead of concentrating on developmental issues.
We will honk and honk and honk and honk and honk!
You 3 mercenaries are a disgrace to Zambians,you shall surely rot in hell.Mwe mbushi mwe!