THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) has condemned the use of force by the police against a crowd that included unruly United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres at Lusaka Central Police when their leader, Hakainde Hichilema was summoned for questioning on Thursday.
HRC chairperson Pixie Yangailo said in a statement yesterday that the police should not have allowed people who were not needed to enter the police station.
While being mindful that the unruly behaviour exhibited by cadres could have provoked the situation, Ms Yangailo said the Commission felt the fracas could have been avoided had the police taken the necessary precautions to control the crowd.
On Thursday, unruly UPND cadres forced their way to the second floor of the main building at the police station after out-numbering police officers, who were later forced to fire teargas canisters.
Ms Yangailo said the Commission was concerned over the use of force as a way of handling unruly crowds and described it as “unreasonable and unacceptable.”
She said the police high command should be aware that such “brutal and unprofessional tactics” dented the image of the police as well as the human rights record of the country.
”The Commission, therefore, urges the police to resist temptations to use brutal force when dealing with such unarmed and defenceless crowds as it expected to act professionally like a service and not a force if it is to inspire confidence from the public,” Ms Yangailo said.
She said the Commission also condemned the attack by police on journalists who went to cover the event.She reiterated the need for journalists to be allowed to do their work without undue interference.
Ms Yangailo called on the police to protect journalists at all times.She urged the leadership of all political parties to advise their cadres, whether in private or in public, to refrain from behaviour that would bring them in conflict with the law or likely to provoke situations that could lead to unnecessary clashes with the police.
“The enjoyment of human rights requires that everyone pays due regard to their own and others’ responsibility to act responsibly according to the law and not take the law in their own hands,” Ms Yangailo said.
And National Restoration Party (NAREP) youth league said that it was disappointed with what it has termed as high levels of intolerance that seem to have characterized the PF’s style of leadership.
NAREP youth league chairperson Aquino Mutale said that the PF government seems to have dictatorial tendencies especially towards opposition in the country.
Mutale told QFM news that it is not right for the PF government to be allowing the law enforcement agencies to intimidate the citizens.
The youth leader said that NAREP strongly condemns the brutal beating of journalists and UPND cadres yesterday at Lusaka Central police.
Mutale however, indicated that NAREP does not support the UPND’s bitter and frustrated approach towards politics and governance.
And Mutale has also challenged the Zambia police service to use the zeal it showed yesterday to beat journalists and cadres to close up on the people that have continued to kill women in Lusaka.
Mutale added that the police have a duty to ensure that they protect the Zambian citizens from criminal activities.
[Times of Zambia/QFM]
The so called HRC, where have you been?
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, presided over a flawed and corrupt privatisation exercise that consigned thousands of Zambians to abject poverty after being rendered jobless in the process,
Mr. whatever you call yourself spare us your ignorance
This is rather *****ic. HEhE HAD TERMS OF REFERENCE FROM THE STATE. HE EXCUTED THEM AND HEY, GOT HIS STAKE, Todate, no one has proved the allegations that he stole. Sata presided over scandelous mezfaf flats, 1993 Medical store scandals and rendered councils and Zambians poor? Why not raise it up now?
Just looking at the video, I wonder what else the police should have done to a mob that blatantly provoked the authorities. Entering the police premises in a commotion like that with utter desrepect of the police only requires strong response. Shouldnt HRC blame HH for organising these infidels?
Dont support blindly.
1.The cops should have used their intelligence to predict what would happen
2. The idi.ots could have controlled entry into the police premises rather than let everyone
3. they are too dull because they too were chocked as the smoke entered their offices.
Ba Pixie Yangailo just yaps. What human rights were violated when the cadres invaded a police station? police on their part have already apologised. What has the party in question said about the conduct of its cadres? Nothing! malibu ya kuilombela. HRC is lost!
I agree with you comrade
come on Mutale NAREP is a defunct party…..no one will waste his time to listern to your uselles comment….How do you call UPND bitter when they have a big number of MPS and yet you do not even have a councillor…it me you are a wrong chaps to comment on UPND…concetrate on on you nashala neka party…..
It appears HRC wants institutions to just be watching lawlessness spreading in the name of Human Rights. balibe vukamba ba mayo aba…
The police should have just postponed the interrogation and ask HH not to come with his supporters next time. as usual zambians are too dull to think properly and positively……..
The brutality of police on Zambian citizens and unprofessional conduct of the entire police force does not only reflect a dent on itself but the entire country being seen as a police state. Indeed police need not have allowed all UPND party cadres in the police offices together with their leader. This just demonstrates how incompetent, unprofessional police force is except for brutalising people. This failure of compentent policing reflect the type of government in power today in Zambia. We will have to work hard to restore credibility in Zambian politics and civil existence once PF govt is consigned to archieves never to repeat mediocrity in Zambia.
The police obviously did not expect such a crowd to appear for just questioning a citizen. These thugs forced their way into the building. havent you seen the video? You expect the police to be begging these unruly bunch?
what is this under 5 upto? next time he comes with those thugs, just make sure you break one or two of his useless bones. atase bane!
Sit down girl…
What do u expect from a police “force” that is run by unschooled and uncultured women? These women ii see when HH becomes Head of State sooner or later.
Mmm, where there is a will, there is always a way. But if you close your mind and think that the only way is violence, then there will always be violence. The reverse is equally true. Instead of tear gassing the cadres, they could have just let go HH and then think of another strategy! But since they always think they are powerful, they had to tear gas the people. May be they also wanted to show that they have tear gas not as earlier reported.
What’s the news source again: Times of Zambia!!!! As expected they like twisting the truth just to suit their master. Sata and his brutality must be stopped before he puts this country on fire. Mmembe and Nchito should calm their bitterness. They have failed to finish of HH politically now they are resolting to violence
But there is a video by Muvi TV. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. You see for yourself. Muimwene. What have you got to say about that?
YANGAILO……PLEASE JUST KEEP QUIET. WHAT HUMAN RIGHTS DO YOU PROPAGATE AND PROTECT? YOU HAVE BEEN VERY QUIET ON THE RIGHTS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS TO A DECENT WAGE…….C,MON GIRL COME OUT IN THE OPEN.
WE KNOW YOU!!!!! you just yap when you are tired.
Its irresponsible to throw tear gas in an enclosed space.There would obviously be a stampede and people injured.Zambians open your eyes is this really what we want.
Whats the ponit here, Non professional police conduct. not party issues or individualspeople r easly driven away from the reality. alaway be professional no matter what!!
Look at the way she loos! She is well norished to wake up when we need her. Your officers should have permanent residence at police stations.
Look at the way she looks! She is well norished to wake up when we need her. Your officers should have permanent residence at police stations.
Good
When eating with a mad person you ll not know when you are eating a snake.Hamiyanze learn to debate objectively and avoid personal attacks.The MMD left you behind bares it is the some thing this group of Mad people ll do to you.HRC on this one you are right let the police use good ways to handle such matters HH is the next president be careful you patriotic fools or this ll be the start of a civil in zambia come Monday.
Mr Hamiyanze says:
JEALOUS
I think it is time to invest in the police if we expect them to act proffessionally.
As fas as i know the Lusaka central police have a lot of sensitive informations that need to be protected, how can a mob of people manage to enter into the premisses and reach up to the second floor?
This is a big shame to the entire nation! The way the bank of Zed is protected, try to do the same with our police stations in the country.
Here lately, I have been asking myself a lot of questions such as what really went wrong with the Zambian Psyche, for instance. After reading this article, I am not only dismayed by the discombobulated thinking process now prevalent in our great nation but also at our intellectual honesty.
To start with, this Ms. Yangailo, the so called Human Rights Commission Chairperson starts by condemning the police instead of HH. This blatant disregard for law and order is our greatest panacea for our fall as a society. Using very simple logic one would understand that the police were merely responding to a “cause” brought on them by the “actions” of HH.
Continued …
Cont … HH’s cowardly “actions” of bringing in cadres to a call out that is purely personal (of course politically motivated) and I refer to it as personal because of his purported alarmist statements of Zambian militia being trained in Sudan was meant to make him look intelligent on the expense of our collective peace, brought about disorderly conduct, a “cause” to which police reacted in order to maintain peace and order at the police station.
HH needed to take personal responsibility and appear in person with his attorneys not cadres. Now, I don’t know if this is how stupid our politicians have become but a personal issues has to be addressed by the culprit not his followers.
Cont … In the west, these cadres would not have dared to even enter the police post, they would have been asked what business of theirs was taking place there. And if they dared do anything, all of them would have been arrested on the spot for “interfering with police duties” which is Class B misdemeanor.
Having said that Ms. Yangailo’s statement is the most foolish thing I have ever read on Lusaka Times … she either has no clue what her Human Rights Commission job entails or she is completely intellectually dishonest. These cadres checked their rights at the door the moment they entered the police station where they had no business appearing.
Cont … As if that was not enough, they broke the law by interfering with police duties and had no human rights claims to them even at the point of being tear gassed and ignorance is no defense in the court of law.
Lastly, where is the President of the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise? HH is a President in waiting because he is a Party President of a major party. His actions are supposed to be reiterated and/or rebutted with a presidential psyche. Peace loving citizens such as journalists carrying out their duties were injured by a power hungry HH’s “actions” which “caused” the police to try and save the situation and the president is mute? What has gone wrong with my country? I want my Zambia back!!!
I feel sorry for you that no one comments on what you essays.
Ba Nostradamus: I really feel sorry for you … always bitter about something. What went wrong? Get a life, maybe the Big Apple ain’t what you thought it would bring to you. There is still chance for redemption, my brother … What a sweet life!!!
Thanx Brave. You have said it for me because this political irresponsibility by Haikande and his party cadres and the so called freedom of expression, has been taken too far. These UPND ingratiates have no idea what marshall law is/or means because they never experienced what we did on the copperbelt during the 1986 riots. Taunting the government is courting disaster. And please, don’t nobody encourage President Sata to invoke his powers and declare marshall law as Dr Kaunda did then. Hakainde has no idea what powers the state has and them irresponsible cadres will only have themselves to blame. Be thankful you are dealing with regular police and not the Kamfinsa Mobile Unit or Paramilitary Police because they are not as tolerant and they are very good at handling such unruly situations.
Coachez: These chaps don’t even understand the real wrath of the law, remember the red barets? I could not have said it better.
#22 John, I always get happy when I read some progressive thinking coming up like you.
Don’t blame HH, the HRC, the Police, blame government for poor infrastructure. In New York City we see NYPD blocking streets every single day, hour to hour, if there is a celebrate, wedding, or anything which can attract mob/crowd, they are ready in advance.
It was a matter of blocking 2 roads, the one going to inter-city & one going joining Cairo Rd in Lusaka… and Hakainde would have been arrested in peace.
And who told you Police called Hakainde to be arrested. Get your facts straight, the DPP instructed he be questioned without a “warn and caution”. Do you understand what that means? What do you do in life? Where did you go to school? What is your level of education?
You mean you don’t understand what it means to be questioned “without” caution? Please advise and let’s debate issues today. Don’t come up with your usual insults, just plain English, the way the Queen speaks it. Get set go!!!
The police did their job , what do you expect them to do with such a riotous mob? HH or one of the top UPND leader should have controlled the mob and told them to dispense.
#28 MK, if I was close to you, I could have spit on you.
Tell that fat big mouth woman called (HRC) to shut up
HRC is contradicting itself, how do you blame the police and then say the crowd was wrong to invade the police station. Tear gas is made for dispensing crowds, for those who got injured they should blame themselves, the police only called HH to appear before them. They had no business to be there.
I totally agree with you, very intellectually honest you are.
Well said. The police were in the spirit of amicably resolving this issue directed by the DPP to simply ask HH to retract his statement. But as usual, he saw this as a way of gaining political mileage by bringing cadres with him. Actually, the police were very tolerant and professional. Anyone who mistakes their tolerance for being stupid, is making a very big mistake. We are a country of law and every citizen should abide by the law. I think this ***** HH is pushing the button too far and he will regret this. If king Fred could lock up the founding father Dr Kaunda on tramped up charges, what of HH whom evidence seems to suggest he’s guilty.
The HRC has categorically acknowledged that the UPND cadres were unruly and outnumbered police officers. Under those circumstances, tear gassing was justifiable and reasonable crowd control measure. Conversely, the same HRC condemned the police for their actions. Can the HRC suggest what alternative crowd control measures the police would have used against these boisterous and unruly chaps being cheered on by HH?
HRC you just cant have it both ways
When it comes to brutality, our police are under fives as they come no were near the police in the USA who could have probably not hesitated to open fire .
Guess who finished the fried chicken in the pot………………………
Pixie
#27 Nostradamus … And who told you police called Hakainde to be arrested. Get your facts straight, the DPP instructed he be questioned without a “warn and caution”. Do you understand what that means? What do you do in life? Where did you go to school? What is your level of education?
You mean you don’t understand what it means to be questioned “without” caution? Please advise and let’s debate issues today. Don’t come up with your usual insults, just plain English, the way the Queen speaks it. Get set, go!!!
If HH was wise he would have asked his supporters to stay out. But he is such a coward that he can control them. To many tongas HH is a god who needs to be protected even against the law that he has broken.
Now maybe these killings could be the work of disgruntled opposition leader trying to make govt look bad it happened before remember those characters in Black mamba.
HH has become too lawless.How does he take unemployed cadres to enter a police station by force?This is not the leadership I can vote for.Why is he behaving like that.HH must be locked up what does he think he is?
Dirty politics.
Having seen the video on Muvi TV its clear that the cadres were unrully.The blame should be put on Hichilema, I don’t understand why he has sank so low.He’s just discouraging people from considering him for 2016.I hope MMD leadership should take advantage of this underfive behaviour and spend more time improving their image and being a formidable opposition cos UPND has really failed us.Why force your way with candres in a small police office what did he think police the reaction could be?Trying to make himself special when he is not.
Police are there to enforce the law and not to interprete the law. HH should have been sued and not asked to go to the police. Are the police qualified to talk politics with politicians? My opinion is that it is not their job to correct what politicians say. If HH made a wrong statement, the govt should have sued him for that.
Similarly the ZFE leadership should have been sued or engaged by the relevant govt ministry, instead of asking them to talk to police officers that know nothing about labour issues. Why are the police handling matters of a political nature when there are politicians that were elected to articulate issues. Is this the dawn of a Police State?
HH is more of a cadre than a president of a political party. I really feel pity for the young man.
The police were in the spirit of amicably resolving this issue directed by the DPP to simply ask HH to retract his statement. But as usual, he saw this as a way of gaining political mileage by bringing cadres with him. Actually, the police were very tolerant and professional. Anyone who mistakes their tolerance for being stupid, is making a very big mistake. We are a country of law and every citizen should abide by the law. I think this ***** HH is pushing the button too far and he will regret this. If king Fred could lock up the founding father Dr Kaunda on tramped up charges, what of HH whom evidence seems to suggest he’s guilty. Don’t take the inaction of the state for granted. “Freedom if wrongly used, is a consumable commodity.”
I bet those policemen there, would do well to even qualify as security guards here.
Either way the country is a joke, the people to answer really is the home affairs minister
That police station looked like our garden shade
Thanks
Look at ka HH, sad state of affairs, after watching this video I now reract my criticism of our police and have to concur with the police spokeswoman there; those UPND dunderheads got what was coming to them for being so unruly like football yobs. And there was ka HH standing pretty in the corner hands folded whilst his youth are chanting his name in police premises of all places.
Good job ZP, any police in the world would have prescribed the same treatment to this chaps.
I even wonder if this thing called Hamiyanze has a normal psych and his reasoning leaves much to e desired.Thats why Kalu damped you,we are discussing a national matter not personality..you are a disgrace to a Tonga tribe.In fact Ulalowa amoyo wako mubi..tokavubi you will continue wallowing in destitution till God comes,by the way..have you served your sentence?trully you were not reformed,you will need to go back.Offer matured critics and grow in your politics..so far you are trodding in a failed path…Grow up chap
My job is very simple, its to tell the people Zambia the truth that Hakainde Economic Terrorist is caning thief.
All we are doing is ensure Hakainde must not be any where near state monies because he wreaked money for privatization leaving millions Zambians jobless. So you shameless cadres, just wait and see.
# 24,25 etc BR Mumba Sr. HH has nothing to do with police incopetency in policing (am not UPND). HH and UPND didn’t force themselves into police premises, they (police) allowed large groups of UPND yobs in. That smacks common sense of policing and were eventually overwhelmed to contain them. How do you sincerely blame HH for that, even if it was Dr Nevers Mumba, Milupi, Nawakwi, Miyanda or Chipimo Jr.( rumoured to be a president of some group). What would be the duty of police to policing situations. Police should do their homework, as policing is not intimidating citizens nor brutalising them. Cattling the mob would have worked well. Its used here in UK and its effective, no blame to main participants of event. PF govt is all together incompetent in national affairs. Give me my Zambia.
“HH and UPND didn’t force themselves into police premises” … and how did they find themselves on the second floor? Perfect analogy of “I stole because the banana tempted me!!!!” No bwana you stole because of your deficient morals. You saw the banana, had no cash but you had to have it.
HH and UPND cadres brought themselves to the police station. The cadres had no business there so why were they interfering with police duties? These uneducated foolish bunch are not part of the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise.
The smart ones know you don’t go to the police station if your name is not on the call out, period!!!! They are so lucky they did this in Lusaka, in Tyler Texas they would be rotting in jail for Class As and Bs my friend. Don’t Mess With Texas.
Police should teargas the brainless cadres harder if HH is going to bring them along next time as human shields. HH is the most selfish opposition leader I have seen. The majority of people in Zambia are too smart to blindly support a politician simply on tribal lines. You may fool some Tongas, but not every Zambian is amused by your uncivilized politics!!
Yagailo looks over-fed
Has anyone watched the Zambian senior policeman at UK police academy 2011 on Youtbe? it’s quite an eye opener about how incompetent our policemen are. The guy could not even follow simple Drill Commands from a junior british policeman.
Ba Complexity: you said, “HH and UPND didn’t force themselves into police premises”. And how did they find themselves on the second floor? Perfect analogy of “I stole because the banana tempted me!!!!” No bwana, you stole because of your deficient morals. You saw the banana, had no cash but you had to have it.
HH and UPND cadres brought themselves to the police station. The cadres had no business there so why were they interfering with police duties? These uneducated foolish bunch are not part of the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise.
The smart ones know you don’t go to the police station if your name is not on the callout, period! They are so lucky they did this in Lusaka, in Tyler Texas they would be rotting in jail for Class As and Bs, with no mercy from a judge.
Hi B. R. Mumba,
You seem not to understand mob psychology. You can’t blame a mob! No individual person can control a mob unless otherwise. The police have to use psychology not force. There comes a time when the blame game is not good at all! However, their are specialists in the field of mob psychology who should help the police handle situations rather than trying to justify such incompetence. The situation was so simple to handle. It is people like you that make things not work. Lets be professional and the police should not be left out in our quest for such knowledge. If we don’t realize our weakness we will never have a better police service.
Further, lets learn to compare situation properly! We are at develop levels of and we still have room to develop.
The police had no other way of dispersing the unrully cadres since they were out numbered
Ba Peace Maker: I am a proponent of law and order. Which law in Zambia allows for a mob to flock to the police station when they are not on a call out. We don’t have such laws and anything else that is allowed to follow after that would be nothing but a cause and effect analysis.
If people can’t follow the law, then you would have lawlessness. Do you want to live a lawless society? In whatever country you are right now, I dare you to go to the police station and find yourself on the second floor wait for a criminal to show up and interfere with police duties.
As soon as you are locked up, I would like you to call a psychologist to come and help you out of your dilemna. After that then come back here and we will continue this discussion. Law enforcement is a serious enterprise!
Hi B. R. Mumba,
I can tell from your responses that you are like the Pharisees who were persecuting people for helping on the Sabbath. The law was made for Man and not vice visa. The science of human behavior is interesting and you seem to be far from understanding it! Anyhow, I must rest my case cos idiocy can really be very dangerous to human progress. I treasure the study of human behavior and cant support incompetence and neither do I condemn the ZP for their action but rather admonish them to study in order to be equal to the modern challenges of policing.
By the way, if you want to learn much about policing, find out from Ephraim Mateyo’s legacy. He tried and in such situations he advised his juniors to provide more security to protect them (proactive).
Peace be with you!
Ba Peace Maker: You wrote and I quote, “… I can tell from your responses that you are like the Pharisees who were persecuting people for helping on the Sabbath.” For someone who really treasures the study of human behavior I can’t really believe you would be that presumptuous to stereotypes.
Well, I reckon have not been to a police station in your current country as requested above to interfere with police duties before you could continue your lecture on police and human psychology. And since you have no empirical evidence to provide, your lecture has no practical applications we can refer to with the current issues under discussions.
Remain blessed and good luck on your lecture circuits, life is a serious enterprise. Assume nothing!
Ba Mumba please, sometimes it’s better to keep quiet than try to justify a wrong.
Nice one Peace Maker, that’s excellent professional analysis.
HH and his cadres should be blamed and arrested for inciting violence! How do you provoke the police like that in their backyard and expect to be treated with kid gloves?! These cadres out-numbered the police and forced their way inside. How do you go to Central Police Station like that? What could the police have done under the circumstances? The journalists were just caught up in the fracas. The police had limited options. Period!
These are humans and maybe our sisters and mothers , the police need caution when dealing
With such things , in America they can be sued,for such actions . The police need to be professional and neutral , how is anyone gonna get fair treatment except for PF carders , show this on CNN gonna make Zambia look bad
The PF govt deliberately provoked the cadres by issuing a police callout to HH(without explaining the reasons) a day after he exposed the pathetic conditions at Evelyn Hone college. Naturally, the cadres thought their leader was being harrased by the police and they decided to accompany him to the police station. The motive of the callout was to intimidated HH in the first place. If the regime have any issues over the Sudanese statement they should take the issue to court instead of the repressive police to handle the issue. The former police constable in state house wants to re introduce colonial police methods of silencing the opposition. Can someone please remind him that this is 2012 not 1963. Lest we forget: Mmembe & Nchito, when are u paying back the 14 billion kwacha?
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Dr. Jere you should have brought in fresh blood from Kamfinsa and Lilayi to deal with the unruly party cadres. It was not the entire party that was summoned by police! Why then that crowd with alot of noise! Being in opposition does not mean causing confusion over any small matter. Human Rights also should be sober the way comments are made, no wonder you even support unruly children who take their parents to police or court after being disciplined! You should give good guidance to our youths even to some elderly people. No wonder discipline has eroded in our communities in the end the government becomes the couplet forgetting that those small issues that you keep on supporting contribute to such moral decay
Kalulu bomina kumo ne cimpusa
This so called HRC never spoke on behalf of Lozis. They are a shame!!!!!!
The Zambian Police has considerable experience in handling public gatherings. If it maintains an argument that the crowdy was unruly. Then, why let a huge crowdy enter a small police station, which creates an argument of anology based on researched work such as deadly incidents in which people die as a result of people trying to exit/enter a small venue in desperation or freeing away from danger. The police should be condemned for endengering people’s lives and for allowing itself to be used as an instrument of mass repression. Irrespective of the occassion, a police station is a pubic place and citizens have a right to visit the police station in question. The police should sort out its house in order and respect Zambia not political parties. Viva Zambian opposition and long live.