THE Zambia Police Service has pledged to execute its duties in a professional manner and handle cases of electoral violence according to the laws of the country.
Deputy police spokesperson, Moses Suwali said in an interview yesterday that the police would not take sides with any political party.
Mr Suwali said the police would act professionally when dealing with cases of violence in Mufumbwe, which has calmed down after unruly cadres went amok last weekend and attacked some people, including United Party for National Development (UPND) spokesperson Charles Kakoma.
And Mr Suwali said police had launched a manhunt for two MMD and two UPND cadres suspected to have been involved in various acts of violence ranging from assault causing actual bodily harm to malicious damage to property in Mufumbwe.
Meanwhile, police in Katete are investigating a case in which six people are alleged to have fired two shots in the air at Dole Village on Sunday night.
Police spokesperson, Bonny Kapeso confirmed in a telephone interview in Katete yesterday that Hamidab Banda was stopped around 23:00 hours by the six unknown people who demanded game meat from his car.
Mr Kapeso said after a confrontation, Mr Banda allowed them to search his car but they did not find any game meat in the vehicle.
He said the men got upset and one of them fired two gunshots in the air and ran away.
And the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) and the Non Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) have backed the directive by President Rupiah Banda on police to stop violence in the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election that is threatening people’s peace.
They have also challenged opposition political leaders to issue development-oriented campaigns to garner support instead of scheming violence.
FODEP and the NGOCC said police must act decisively before lives are lost in the by-election scheduled for Thursday this week.
NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale advised police not to wait until the president instructs them before they can stop political violence.
She said violence leaves serious effects on women and children and there are times when it escalates, which is the reason why it must be prevented without delay.
Mrs Mwale said the nation now expects the Zambia Police to give them a report on what transpired and how they would deal with future occurrences, especially that the country will hold Presidential elections next year.
Bahati Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament Besa Chimbaka urged the electorate in Mufumbwe and Milanzi to avoid voting for PF and its partner in the pact, the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Mr Chimbaka said opposition leaders should be shunned for fanning violence instead of promoting the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections.
He said it had become clear that opposition leaders were behind the violence to intimidate voters because they had been threatened by the strength of the ruling party.
Mr Chimbaka urged Zambians to support progressive political leaders like President Banda who was moving the country’s development agenda forward.
FODEP president Stanley Mhango said investigations by his organisation had revealed that hired cadres from the Copperbelt Province were the ones leading violent attacks.
Mr Mhango said leaders of political parties must condemn violence and promote peace even when the campaigns show that they would lose the election.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema refused to take responsibility for the violence.
He said reports that he had promoted violence were unfortunate and meant to frustrate his party.
The National Restoration Party (NAREP) condemns in the strongest terms the recent violence that has characterised the Mufumbwe by-election campaigns.
National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo Junior called for political will at all levels to curb and eradicate violence.
Mr Chipimo said it was unacceptable that 45 years after independence, politicians can remain unacceptably silent when their followers were accused of perpetrating violence.
[Times of Zambia]
I do not think Banda has what it takes to move this country forward. That having said, and remember I am a supporter of the Post and the gallant son of the soil Fred M’Membe, their lead story in today’s edition reading “Banda calls HH a dog is highly misleading.” If you read the context within which Banda said what he did, you will realise the screaming headline could not have been any further from the truth. I just hope the Post will in future desist from such yellow journalism synonymous with government taploids of Times and Daily mail or worse still their vile parrot mouth piece ZNBC.
So you know that all along you’ve been taking sides ka? shameless cadres!!!
Wenye wanu akapokola 😮
charles kakoma was attaked.and u say it is the upnd cadres .i cant understand this NGOs .shame .RB is going where u like it or not and Bahati ,we have said before resign and stand on the mmd ticket .what are u scared of .that will be the last you will be quoted by any newspaper.u are a shame getting paid for turning against the party that got u elected .you are stiff worried about ur future .so now u are turning to RB .ask nawakwi .Rb will use u and damp u.PACT here we come
#1 Thank you. “Yellow journalism” is the phrase that I have looking for. That is what has disappointed me about the “new” Post, and that is why I keep saying that with such behaviour the Post will lose us all the freedoms that we cherish as Zambians. Instead of coming out to help correct the Post as you have done, some bloggers will simply support it blindly as long as the headlines are anti-Rupiah. What we must remember is that once this culture of yellow journalism sets in, it will be difficult to reverse it whether MMD, UPND, PF singutarly or severally (that’s right any combionation of the three)are in power. So let’s not be myopic, but condemn bad behaviour and correct without bias.
“And Mr Suwali said police had launched a manhunt for two MMD and two UPND cadres suspected to have been involved in various acts of violence ranging from assault causing actual bodily harm to malicious damage to property in Mufumbwe” ……good, Zambia Police Service, that is the way to go. And thank you Mr President (Banda) for cshowing leadership and condemning violence. It is quite clear that cadres from both parties are guilty. Sad that it had to take Mr Kakoma to taste his party’s own medicine before the violence was controlled.
In Katie Good’s eyes William Banda is an angel.
Katie my dear please wake up and smell the coffee. Pres Banda condeming voilence is all window dressing. If he indeed detested violence he wouldnt have allowed his party to ferry unrully kaponyas from lsk to Mufumbwe. Those aer the people causing violence. And how does one explain the police inspector general just looking at MMD cadres causing violence without acting. and this isnt the first time it has happened. Some jourbalists were assaulted at the aiport sometime back when police were looking and did we get any condemnation from the president or has anyone been held account for those barabaric acts?
This is a bit rich coming from a police force that has uneducated people. I don’t expect any better from the security wing of the MMD.
No. 8 is right. Why is it that RB’s police cant’ arrest the caders camping at the polling stations in Mufumbwe because this is against the electral code of conduct. No one is allowed to campaing within 100 meters from a polling station, but RB has let his caders camp right in the polling station (Schools) nowander they are threatening the residents of Mufumbwe.
What is going on in Zambia kanshi,the headline on postonline is ”Rupiah says HH is son of a dog.” When are we gonna get decent politics in Zambia and Africa as a whole,i feel so ashamed reading such things.
Bututu ba katie good for nothing wake up you ka guy why are you so dull cant you see the bad the devil here iwe kamuntu kashikwete amano.
Good Afternoon bloggers
Like #11 Jigga, I am equally questioning myself what’s happening in our beloved country. I also read the embarrasing headline on the Post front page – the entire president and a presidential candidate exchanging blows below the belt. These politics of hate only reveal that our leaders have lost sense of direction. Quo Vadis Zambia?
Those of you who saw the documentary about Chinese investment in Zambia, Kenya and Angola on German TV last night will marvel at the huge steps of progress that the other countries have made despite their political unrest, in relation to Zambia, which has had peace and stability all along.
#13 Nine Chale; Lost sense of direction? Has there been any since the sad passing of LPM?
The media needs to create a monthly televised debate platform like the British parliament. This could include all the party leaders debating on topics affecting the country. It can be translated in different languages.
#1 Sebuloni Kamutanda Totally agree with you. That type of reporting should be left toMMD papers/TVZ
The police should not be allowed to make press statements after their failure to address the violence in Mufumbwe, and other places. I don’t care which party is behind the violence, the culprits should be arrested. This story is too little too late. RB is commander of the police force, he too should be rebuked for talking AFTER the violence. He should fire every one of those police chiefs as a lesson to future candidates. Talk is cheap, bane, we now assume that the president could have ordered the police not to do anything. A wise person will understand what I mean, this is no time to approve RB but to condemn him. We need peace to reign, never mind the political atmosphere – the citizen first! **==
The big question is, WHY HAS MMD FAILED TO IMPLEMENT THE DECENTRALISATION POLICY?
Those in MMD know that their fear is that Councils will perform better, especially the City& Municipal Councils which are under the opposition, and that would be a threat to the survival of MMD. This is the perception of those in MMD, its sad to have such shallow minded leaders that can hold back the development of the nation for their own benefit at the expense of the masses.
Finally, are MMD controlled Councils doing better than those under opposition?
Can MMD tell us why Councils they control e.g. Kaoma in W. Province, Milenge in Luapula &Isoka have had misappropriation cases (not misapplication) What of AG reports on Central Govt?
Minister of MLGH, who’s MMD, approves all budgets for Councils.