Deputy Commissioner of Police Solomon Jere has said irresponsible reporting of political activities by the media had the potential to plunge the nation into chaos.
And the Zambia Police in Southern Province have so far recorded 11 assault cases resulting from political activities in four
Districts in the Province.
Dr Jere said there was need for the media in the country to report political campaigns in a factual manner to avoid inciting violence among political players.
Speaking during an interactive meeting of the Zambia Police, political party representatives and other stakeholders at Protea hotel in Livingstone today, he noted that it was the responsibility of all Zambians to play their part and cultivate a spirit of love and unity before, during and after the September 20th tripartite elections.
“I wish to state here that irresponsible reporting of political campaigns by our friends, the media has the potential to set the
country on fire and so I would urge the media to avoid sensationalising events by providing the public with credible
information,” said Dr Jere.
Dr Jere also said the police have received a number of complaints from political players adding that they would endeavour to resolve any conflicts amicably without biasness.
He noted that the police was under intense pressure to resolve these conflicts but added that the police would not be moved by any political emotions but would do its work professionally.
“We have come up with number of strategies to resolve political conflicts but we are under intense pressure to have these cases resolved in the shortest time,” said Dr Jere.
“But what I want to say here is that the Zambia Police would not be moved by any political emotions and would work professionally without interference,” he added.
Dr Jere said the police was there to ensure that there was a level political playing field and told the officers on duty to arrest any perpetrators of violence without waiting for instructions from superiors in order to expedite the settling of complaints.
In its quest to quell any possible violence that may ensue, Dr Jere said the Zambia Police have intensified preparations and embarked on a number of strategies including training programmes for the men in uniform.
He also warned police officers to remain non-partisan and conduct themselves in a professional manner when on duty or off duty.
Dr Jere further challenged political parties to state whether they would accept results of the elections and not just condemn violence.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Police in Southern Province have so far recorded 11 assault cases resulting from political activities in four Districts in the Province.
Southern Province Police Chief Lemmy Kajoba said generally, the province had not experienced any major violence apart from some political -related assault cases recorded in Monze, Mazabuka, Namwala, and Choma.
Mr. Kajoba also called for mutual understanding between police and major political players for peace to prevail.
And Inspector general of police Francis Kabonde has called on stakeholders in this year’s elections to work with police so that all forms of violence are dealt with and ensure a free and fair election.
Speaking in Kabwe on Friday at a meeting for electoral stakeholders at Misuku Lodge, Mr. Kabonde said police alone will not manage to prevent or fight violence.
He says preventing electoral violence requires the participation of stakeholders such as the church, political parties, the media, and civil societies among others.
Mr. Kabonde said before campaigns started, police saw the need to be proactive and started discussions with stakeholders in a bid to find ways of resolving issues that lead to violence.
He says everyone should try to be a peace maker and builder during this year’s elections.
He warned that police will not discriminate or favour any law breaker on the basis of political affiliation.
‘We have examples to show. We have arrested people from prominent political parties they have appeared in court others are still appearing in courts of law,’ he said.
He said discussions between police and stakeholders will continue to ensure violence during elections period does not occur anywhere.
“I have 9000 police officers who wrote the examinations after training out of a total of 15,000, number of police officers. These were trained in human rights and other areas that include duties and responsibility of police officers before, during and after polling day,’ he said.
He urged participants to be weary of people peddling lies that could cause anarchy saying such people should be arrested and prosecuted.
Meanwhile moderator of the meeting, Bishop Joshua Banda called on political parties with differences to dialogue.
Bishop Banda said this was key to resolving any misunderstanding that may exist among them.
Bishop Banda emphasized that dialogue generated better understanding and respect of each other’s divergent views.
He stressed that dialogue was the prime road to unity despite many diversities.
ZANIS
True, for example making a headline stating that chief Kopa has endorsed so and so when he has not is highly irresponsible. good work Jere
Is that the picture for Solomon Jere? I beleive there are alot of photos available as opposed to using a police hat instead of man in the subject. Please improve your reporting skills. You are better leaving out the picture if you dont have an decent one.
Dullu!
A national Broadcaster reporting something which is not true is rubbish journalism. I am not paying 3 pin this month until after elections.
Ba number 2(JUZZ)…LOL sometimes they only show the word Police if that is a spokes man for the institute.so no problem with the picture…LOL…so it is an official statement. Dont embarrass yourself! Back to the topic…start by caging William Banda.
For as long as William Banda is still running around naked like shaka attacking indigenous Zambians in the presence of police, I do not trust this sweet talk. If police are serious with what they are talking about we would have William already arrested. The police should also arrest the people abusing government facilities for campaigns and warn ZNBC for abusing our k3000 for campaigning for one party. We also are not happy as citizens for the dust that have been created in our compounds for the so called development. The rains are coming and soon we will have serious muddy roads.
Bwana Jail, muleikalafye
#1 The Post aren’t fo.ols, they obviously have a recording of what that Stupi.d and greedy Chief said. I hope in future they’ll start uploading video/audio recordings of shameless turncoats like this old fo.ol on the internet.
Embarassing myself? re you sure? What are you talking about because when something happens in Livingstone they show the face of Lemmy Kajoba as commanding officer and on the copperbelt they show the face of Dr Malama so your response does not hold any water but I suspect it holds some liquor
At # 4, Embarassing myself? are you sure? What are you talking about because when something happens in Livingstone they show the face of Lemmy Kajoba as commanding officer and on the copperbelt they show the face of Dr Malama so your response does not hold any water but I suspect it holds some liquor
#8 Jazz. we knew who u were referring to. There re just a few post above you so you did not have to post twice.
Thank you for the reminder
Its true that irresponsible reporting by the media private and public has the potntial to set the country on fire equally irresponsible handling of complaints by the opposition on the abuse of govt resources and assault by MMD cadres has the potentail to set country on fire. So far we have sen the police being armed with water canons, bullet proof vests, new fleet of motor vehicles. I hope the police will not use these equipment to surpress teh vies of the opposition members but must fairly provide security to all Zambia irrespective of political affliation. We are watching with keen interest how Kabonde aand his cops going to act as we near polling day.
Agreed – irresponsible reporting can cause chaos in the country, but so can selective and biased application of the law by the police; and so can secretive and apparently icompetent management of the electoral process by the Electoral Commision of Zambia!
All of us need to shape up to the required standards of our responsibilities!
phidelis Malunga
Ndola
Mmembe started the shit reporting, others are just following him
It has become a common culture among the chiefs to say things to the media and later on refute. The only ones who stand by their words are Nalubamba and Nkomesha.
ma chief nsala,they will go whereever the cash is shammmmmmmmmm
BWANA sure media is to blame?!!! Just say it sir, POLITICAL PARTIES ARE TO BLAME…yes the media has a role to play…REPORT ALL THE HAPPENINGS AS THE OCCUR…Political leaders have the potential to stop all this and they are not doing a good job at it…I wonder how they are going to run the country..OR HOW THEY ARE RUNNING THE COUNTRY!
Point Ba Jere
why report that Sata is sick when your father died of AIDS or Measles !!!!
Police can you arrest Banda because he agreed that he is at the center of violence, only then can we shall take you seriously otherwise you are not professional and a damn cowards.
the only disapointing thing is that people are commenting very contrally to the topic at hand. wat has been said is very clear and very important. lets be objective: headlines like some has collapsed, some one is bed ridden so cant attend some ones funeral, some one has warned some one not to attents some ones funeral or else they will be bruised, some one actively caused confusion in chongwe and inocent pipo attacked….all these headlines,wat has been done about these stories? let the law apply to anyone and let the police be more proffessional by not favouring or fearing some individuals. the world is watching….
Zambia’s 1st president was named “DAVID” The 2nd president “JACOB” The 3rd was “LEVY” All these three names ar from the bible, now tell me wch book, chapter or verse can u find names such as Hakainde or Rupiah not even bwezani, come on people of GOD ” THE GREAT ANGEL MICHEAL” is th 4th. Vote wisely on 20th sept 2011. Remember zambia is a christian nation.
LOL
You are really funny!
yah poor reporting especially you LT, Times of Zambia, Daily mail, ZNBC, Zambiawatch dog, lastly post news paper. every thing pathetic.
Lazy Zambian Police, always trying to find an excuse for being incompetent. Why blame the media when you are not doing your job properly? A least some media houses are doing their job and the police should start to do their job by arresting MMD thugs instead of bitching, when the opposition files complaints.
Zambian Journalism: How low thou have sunk! Now a policeman is giving you lectures on reporting!
Bishop Joshua Banda. I remember you from Hillcrest Technical Secondary School in late 70s. Congrats you are contributing to Zambias development. I hope I taught you something in the tuckshop.
ZP must get off their …. and arrest Banda for violence in Chongwe for a start. Newspapers did not beat up people in Chongwe, William Banda did!!
#22, tribalism is a cancer. I dont think christianity supports it either.
If only ZP can carry out its responsibilities responsibly, all this so called irresponsible reporting would have not arisen.The police are supposed to have been pro-active and not just watching the ugly and bloody scenario unfold right before their eyes.
In fewer cases they have been reactionary only after the opposition PF invoked its own right to protection after innumerable failures by ZP
Stop whining and just do your job
Bwana Jere can u hear yoself?The point is our police force is biased,i mean how can you arrest and charge someone for tearing down RB campaign posters and yet you can’t arrest William Banda who is causing more harm to our people of zambia? Come on police the fact of the matter is that you are toothless when it comes to deal with someone attached to the ruling government and that is what can plunge this country in hot soup.William Banda is a malawian and so he can easily crossover but I only have one Zambia so twakana saaaaaana impasase.Vote peacefully zambian people.God bless Zed.
Wawawawa talk talk talk ,no action.Arrest chiviriviri Bermuda for beating up chongwelese.Stop sweet talks or stay quiet.
The media’s reporting trully leaves a great deal to desire both private and public.I dont think any station can get an award for inciting pipo to fight(maybe from the devil).there is life after elections so pliz dont destroy the hopes of the zambian children by bringing confusion to this land given to us by god.ask the pipo of somalia,they would give anything to live in a country like zambia,so let us appreciate what we have and correct the wrongs peacefully
The last words I would like to hear are from Kabonde, he is a disgrace
Mutuna Chanda of BBC is irresponsible, pf is not i repeat not the biggest opp political party don’t mislead world any more
@5 kci,wandepula ati running around naked like shaka,now can you imagine him running as skinny as he is…..
Ok,we we will be reporting for ourselves .we are saying there is no ny RESULT ,BUT DONCHI KUBOCHA.PABWATO
@34 Wulichipuba you can not even tell which party is which. You must be malawian like william Banda
Iwe Jere mafiyobe, we were not there when chiKabonde in collusion with chiKulu Mphuno invited Zimbabwean Police. Mwanya uno mwaka muleya.
Let’s respect the Police especially Southern and Copperbelt- Lemmy and Martin know their job.
Great delivery. Solid arguments. Keep up the amazing effort.
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