The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned individuals planning to cause anarchy in the country by demonstrating against its decision to realign some districts.
Home Affairs Minister Kennedy Sakeni said the Government will not tolerate acts that intend to provoke civil strife.
He cautioned perpetrators to desist from engaging in such acts as they would face the wrath of the law.
Mr. Sakeni told journalists that the realignment of districts in the country does not change any individual from being Zambian, because the move is purely for administrative purposes.
Some quarters of society especially from Southern Province have vowed to go to war over government’s decision to realign certain districts in the country.
Meanwhile, Mr Sakeni has commended the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on the efforts it is making in the fight against drug trafficking, drug abuse and money laundering.
The Minister was speaking when he officially opened the 13th Drug Enforcement Commission senior Officers Conference in Lusaka today.
And DEC Commissioner Alita Mbahwe said there is urgent need to increase funding to the Commission to effectively fight drug trafficking, drug abuse and money laundering.
ZNBC
OHH LAWD! TWAFWA KUNO
If people want to protest let them go ahead and you as government is to listen to their concerns and address them. which law prohits citizens from protesting when they feel aggrieved
That stance of intolerance (by authority) is very old style. When people have a view to express, let them do so. Bear in mind that with razor-thin victories in most democracies, you cannot afford to alienate an already alienated electorate any further. Whatever they have to say, let them say it, and let the police be there to offer necessary restraint only. Don’t feed the fires needlessly because they can go out of control all too easily.
Peaceful demonstrations are totally acceptable and there is a great difference between a legal demonstration and invoking anarchy. The people of all countries need a platform to make their views heard. To stifle the views of the masses is short sighted and inviting trouble. :o
Yah – let people protest if they so wish. Just ensure you provide them with security to protect both their lives and property.Â
However, I support the idea of realigning districts and provinces. It will help with the management of the country more efficiently especially that the objective of the PF is to use decentrallisation where Chiefs and Local governments play a significant role in managing development – this is necessary.
Being in government doesn’t mean you treat the country as if it’s your personal farm. PF was supposed to consult first, this way of doing things is retrogressive to say the least. The reasons advanced are all very lame excuses to sort out the people of Southern and turn the pronvince into a small nonentity. This is barbaric! Sata should know that he’s now father of the nation including people that did not vote for PF and should show love to all, this is the only way to win their confidence in future. It is very clear that Sata hates Tongas with a passion! Only those who’re blinded by their support for him can’t see what he’s up to. I sympathise with the peaceful loving hardworking Tongas.
Iwe Sakeni chee colour chobe bushe is this your mother’s country? We will demonstrate if we feel aggrieved and we do not owe you or your mud boss any explanation. Fo fak sek, swaini.
Politicians must as well be seen to work toward maintaining unity in the nation. They do not have monopoly of wisdom. It is folly for politicians to call defenceless demonstrating citizens names meant to incite unaffected citizens fight their fellow brothers and sisters. Those demonstrating merely wish to have their views heard after govt’s failure to consult them as stake holders.
This government of kaponyas does not understand the tenets of democracy. Citizens have a right to express their unhappiness in a peaceful way. The government has no right to muzzle them. Learn to listen to people’s views and then counter them with convincing explanations. Do not turn the Zambia police into men and women wearing a uniform of brutality. We seem to be having crazy baldheads for ministers.
Sakeni we are not scared of you and your weapon’s we will always defend what belongs to the tonga people,we demand HH to lead us with the way forward we cannot relax seeing these monkey’s playing in our fields.sata is a lazy president who thinks realignment of districts is the only key 2 national development.
Uko ku Zambia ubututu bwalicila. How can normal people demonstrate against a GRZ decision to re-align districts? amazing.Â
the problem is that those who want to protest are evening threatening of going to war over realigment of districts.u dont expect government to sit back and allow trouble makers cause problems.and those opposing realigment wat valid points do they have apart from saying their was no ‘consultation’.
PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE PEACEFULLY. IT IS THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS COLLECTIVELY. IS THIS THE GOVERNMENT YOU VOTED FOR? NOTHING GOOD WILL COME FROM THIS GOVERNMENT. IT IS 3 TRILLION KWACHA EVERYDAY, WHEN THEY STILL HAVE TO MAKE THAT AMOUNT.
Shame on this government. Freedom of speech and peaceful assembly are cornerstones of democracy. It is very ugly of PF to assume that a demonstration will cause ‘civil strife’ when they are the ones elected to uphold our democratic rights. Reminds of how MMD tried to ban honking at 5pm or wearing of green ribbons to protest against the third term. Shame on these jackals!
Wynter Kabimba, where are you? We thought PF stands for democratic rights of citizens and that it will do things differently from MMD. So Mr Sakeni do you intend to shoot the protesters the Mongu way that you condemned? Now what is wrong with a protest? Is it the same as treason? Anyway, learn to consult with stakeholders to allay possible misunderstanding.
I heard on the lunch time ZNBC News that PF has invited President Obama to visit Zambia. Inviting Obama to a country which will not tolerate protests? Mr Sakeni, ask Syria whether Obama can visit their country.
Southern province or any province within this country belongs to all Zambians.It is part of governance for any administration in goverment to create,realign and streamline districts and provinces for administrative convinience.I expected UPND which prides itself to be of intelligent people not to mislead people unnecessarily.If anything will change,it will be to the advantage of the people now that they will have govt closer to them.Nobody will be shipped anywhere,get it through your thick heads
I also do not agree with Sakeni on the score of threatening protesters,in a democracy,protests or demonstrations are normal,people should be allowed to their right of stupidity and foolishness and exposing their ignorance,the role of the police is just to provide security and protection and NOT to ban the protest or demo or question the validity of the cause of protest.Let those who want to be foolish be seen for what they are.
There is no absolute right to anything. You can’t say you are going to demonstrate and that you are ready to go to WAR over the issue. The mere threat takes away your right to do it. To demonstrate over any issue one is aggrieved about is to drive to the point loudly. Now, who is willing to go to war? Is it the organizers or the people they are inciting? In fact they are supposed to be arrested before they even do it. Call for peaceful demos to show that you don’t agree with the decision taken, then you will have our sympathy. Sakeni give them the benefit of doubt, allow them to demonstrate. Fore-warned is fore-armed
Its called sharpening Iron with Iron, the violent way Sata has taken Zambia requires citizens to react in the same way. He can not expect to be making provocative decisions without receiving the same reaction. Let’s show this illiterate of a president that Zambians are not docile. Sakeni before the Zambian people start behaving like Egyptians tell Sata to Change, not even the strongest army will stop it..
Sata should have consulted before making these crazy decision,No body is doing these crazy things especially in this modern era of technology, that reasoning don’t hold any water  I don’t support changing the
Country ,realigning our country, that’s destroying and messing up our history, and they permanent geography of the country, Zambia is not your house that u keep restructuring adding ,taking away , he should have realigned the country in 1964Â
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