The case involving Chief Mungaila of the Ila speaking people in Namwala District was adjourned to a date to be confirmed somewhere in early November.
ZANIS reports that the Traditional leader who appeared for a hearing before the Police and Public Complaint Authority ( PPCA ) was told that his complaint against the police could not be heard due to none availability of the five named police officers whose names have been withhold for professional reasons.
The PPCA chairman James Mwanakatwe told the traditional leader and his indunas that in the absence of the named five police officers, the Authority had decided to hear his case in Lusaka at a suitable date somewhere in November, 2012 when the officers would be available.
He said upon informing the police officers in question, Chief Mungaila was going to be informed at a suitable date for a special hearing in Lusaka.
The chief’s Induna said the traditional ruler would be available for hearing in Lusaka on a date to be communicated to the royal establishment by the Authority.
Chief Mungaila had lodged in a complaint before the Authority against the said police officers’ conduct in their execution of a warrant of arrest.
This is in a case of Jane Mungaila-Mpiko versus John Chaande and the Attorney General.
Facts are that on 7TH February , 2012, upon arriving at his farm in Namwala, the said police officers whilst being heavily armed proceeded to forcefully enter his palace by breaking and shattering doors.
[pullquote]“ The Police officers then bundled me in a vehicle and drove off without explaining to my relatives where I was being taken to and the offense that I had committed.[/pullquote]
The chief said after the police officers had entered his palace, they then forced their entry into his matrimonial bedroom and apprehended him in front of his wife, children and relatives.
“ The Police officers then bundled me in a vehicle and drove off without explaining to my relatives where I was being taken to and the offense that I had committed.
“Whilst in the house, the officers caused damage to a number of my properties and confiscated two cell phones from my children,” he said.
Chief Mungaila added that his relatives and lawyers later learnt from his subjects that he was being driven to Lusaka after they trailed the vehicle.
He said it was at this juncture that his subjects suggested and agreed with the police officers to take him to the High Court Police Station.
It was after the High court Judge granted the stay of execution, that Chief Mungaila was released at About 17:00 hours.
He said his complaint emanates from the conduct of the five named police officers saying he was demeaned and treated like a criminal as his Indunas and Returners where not allowed to accompany him.
He also complained that the police officers did not even give him a chance to change his sleeping gown.
He said he considered that the conduct by the named police officers was highly unprofessional, unjust and a clear disregard of the authority and standing of a Traditional leader as a national leader and member of the House of Chiefs.
The traditional leader denied that he was neither a fugitive nor a criminal to be treated in such a manner adding that at no time did he conduct himself in a manner suggesting that he was not willing to comply with the police officers’ directives or orders.
“The forceful entry into the house and subsequent damage of property occasioned by the same police was not only unfair and unnecessary but constitutes a serious misconduct on their part,” he said.
[pullquote]“The officers’ act by publicly demeaning and embarrassing me was highly provocative and possible sources of violence save, for the timely intervention of traditional advisers and elders who restrained my subjects from retaliating and taking the law into their own hands.[/pullquote]
He said in addition to this, the police officers were accompanied by the plaintiffs’ ( Jane Mungaila- Mpiko) lawyer Martin Nalishuwa.
He said it was this bond that made him and his royal establishment to suspect that the police officers deliberately disregarded their professional ethics with a view to embarrass him and his subjects.
He said the police officers’ conduct was not only an infringement of his human rights but also an affront and insult to his subjects’ longstanding customs and traditions.
“The officers’ act by publicly demeaning and embarrassing me was highly provocative and possible sources of violence save, for the timely intervention of traditional advisers and elders who restrained my subjects from retaliating and taking the law into their own hands.
He appealed to the Mwanakatwe led PPCA to take action against the erring officers for misconduct and un-professionalism in their execution of their duties.
ZANIS
Bembas at it
It is Solomon Jere who insists the police are still a force not a service
those chaps have to be fired..they should learn to respect elderly people in front of their children and subjects!
I am rather behind. What did the chief do that followed this treatment?
i doubt if ever Zambian police will be profession in this life time, to expect professionalism from the police is like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer. even the so called PPCA is toothless and a waste of national resources that could be channeled into need areas like health and not that thing called PPCA. can someone tell me if they have seen anything tangible/resolved by this PPCA…..
Officer mu duty temunobe!!
LT – whats the genesis of all this? Start the story from the beginning for us to know what the reason was for such treatment.
Bad reporting again. Why can’t you tell us the story behind the action of the cops?
Police backwardness.Unprofessionalism of the worst kind.By the way,does Solomon Jere still sing those nice gospel songs he used to sing, or he’s currently singing PF songs?
What crime did the chief commit to deserve such a treatment? Knowing these Bantu Botatwe with their insatiable libido, maybe he was caught committing buggery with a cow!
They police officers only respect Bemba chievies. Next time police should be careful because they are playing with fire, as Ilas can be very dangerious with their spears.
poor reporting this story is half baked I can’t make an informed…something fishy though the Plaintiff or in layman terms the person suing the Chief is his bululu one ” Jane Mungaila- Mpiko”…LT investigate
A chief is a chief and will remain so,as for gvts,they will come and go.It was foolish for Police officers to act like that.Let’s learn to respect our own tradition.Whether wrong or not let us respect our traditional leaders or else Nobody else shall respect them. Starting from MCS to his policemen.
# Chitulika Village- The Police is Zambia is still a force following the current constitution. Check Article 107 or 103 if Im not mistaken. It says there shall be the Police Force. The issue of the Police being a Service was a mere pronouncement from politicians I think the late Dr Chiluba.