Friday, March 29, 2024

Opposition MPs Protest at State House over the arrest of Dr Nevers Mumba

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The arrested Opposition members with a female colleague locked up in the same cell
The arrested Opposition members with a female colleague locked up in the same cell

Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday protested at State House in Lusaka over the arrest of MMD president Nevers Mumba and two of his four accompanying MPs on the Copperbelt Province for unlawful assembly by police on Monday.

Dr Mumba was questioned together with Lufwanyama Mp Anne Chungu,Howard Kunda of Muchinga, Michael Katambo from Masaiti and Kafulafuta parliamentarian James Chishiba at Kitwe Central Station but was later moved to Nkana East Police Station where he was detained together with Mr Kunda and Ms Chungu.

The police however, released the MPS for Masaiti and Kafulafuta, Mr Katambo and Mr Chishiba respectively after questioning.

The arrest of MMD Mps yesterday prompted other opposition parliamentarians to walk out of Parliament and drove to State House in an attempt to seek audience with President Michael Sata.

MMD vice president Michael Kaingu and United Party for National Development spokesperson Charles Kakoma who led other opposition MPs, arrived at State House around 15:30 but were met by a heavy presence of police in full riot gear who sealed the main gate and other roads near State House.

Nevers Mumba and 4 MMD Mps in the Nkana East police cells
Nevers Mumba and 4 MMD Mps in the Nkana East police cells

Mr Kaingu told journalists that the MPs were not happy with arrest of their colleagues and that Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini was also not notified about the arrests of their colleagues.

“We are here to express our displeasure in the manner the police are applying the Public Order.We are to seek audience with President Sata on this matter,” Mr Kaingu said.Lubasenshi MP Patrick Mucheleka (Independent) said there was need to critically look at the Public Order Act and that the arrest of MMD parliamentarians was unfair.

Opposition members of Parliament march towards State House to protest the arrest of MMD president Nevers Mumba and 4 MMD Mps
Opposition members of Parliament march towards State House to protest the arrest of MMD president Nevers Mumba and 4 MMD Mps

After a 10 minutes debate amongst themselves, the MPs later agreed to leave State House and drove back to the National Assembly to chart the way forward.

MMD Solwezi MP Lucky Mulusa was heard pleading with his colleagues to return to National Assembly motel stating President Sata’s special assistant for Press and Public relation George Chellah promised to respond.

The Parliamentarians earlier walked out of Parliament in the middle of budget debates in protest over the arrest of their MMD colleagues along with Dr Mumba.

The walk-out was triggered when UPND Monze Central MP, Jack Mwiimbu raised a point of order, asking if it was in order for the MMD members to continue deliberating on matters in the House when their colleagues had been arrested in Kitwe.

Police cordon off routes leading to State House in Lusaka after opposition members of Parliament threatened to mount a protest.
Police cordon off routes leading to State House in Lusaka after opposition members of Parliament threatened to mount a protest.

“I rise on a very serious point of order, are the members on my left, the MMD, in order to continue debating, when four of their fellow MPs have been moved to Kamfinsa Prison, I need your serious ruling on this matter, sir,” Mr Mwiimbu said.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mkhondo Lungu ruled that the matter would be addressed as guided by the Speaker during deliberations when a similar point of order was raised by Solwezi West MMD MP, Humphrey Mwanza, who expressed concern over the detention of Dr Mumba and other MPs alleging that this was an infringement on human rights.

The opposition bench trooped out of the House at 16:10 hours and proceeded to hold a meeting outside on their next course of action before proceeding to State House.

Opposition members of Parliament plot their next move after they wereblocked by police near State House in Lusaka yesterday where they went to protest the arrest of MMD president Nevers Mumba and 4 MMD Mps
Opposition members of Parliament plot their next move after they wereblocked by police near State House in Lusaka yesterday where they went to protest the arrest of MMD president Nevers Mumba and 4 MMD Mps
Opposition members of Parliament plan their next move after they were stopped from marching to State House by police in Lusaka
Opposition members of Parliament plan their next move after they were stopped from marching to State House by police in Lusaka

80 COMMENTS

  1. I think putting a woman in the same cell with men is not only a human rights issue, but also an assault on the dignity of women in our culture. This is despicable and I hope womens group pick up on this one. If it happens on a higher level, how much more on the bottom level.

  2. I urge the mps to refuse to go parliament until there are assurances from mcs that there will be no longer any curtailing of their fundamental freedom of movement and assembly, please for once you guys be vigilant this affects you all and indeed all of us

  3. Surely even the shoulder of the roads at State house are worn. This man with all due respect is not intelligent enough to be a leader. Iam having second thoughts. PF for sure is a one term govt and the same Bembas will vote them out. All they need is and easterner or Mambwe and they will support.The Lozi have killed it because of tribalism

    • What if it was a Lozi who would bring real development in Zambia, wouldn’t you vote for him/her because of tribalism? Continue enjoying Canada coz Zambia will never develop coz we continue pointing tribal fingers at each other.

    • so you mean these roads were good before Sata became president and when he did they(roads) just fuushu, the became like that? you are an ###

    • You have a point mate. I also wonder why people are putting every blame to PF and not MMD who ran things down and failed to repair them.

  4. These protesters look like they wanted a cup of tea at State House…lol! They should teach Nevers the consequences of disobeying the law. No one is above the rule of law!!!!

  5. I am a PF supporter but I now feel that this PF government dont mean well for Zambia’s democracy and for Zambia as a country. They want to weaken and eventually kill the opposition completely so they can “rule forever”. It will never happen.

  6. Its a total insult on the dignity of Zambian women that you place men and women in the same cell just because they are in the opposition party.The police are very unprofessional and do not deserve the title police.PF is the worst government we have ever had.Hope us Zambians have learnt a lesson and will vote wisely in 2016.lets change our constitution to rid of these colonial systems.

  7. Go aheard and cross the police barricad why are you retreating you send cadres to protest and you live behind now its your time.*****s

  8. What were those MPs doing in Lufwanyama while their colleagues were in Parliament doing their work. This is Pathetic!!! Nevers Mumba was VP at some point and is very much aware of the POA, why does he behave like a thug?

  9. Oh my,communist Cuba and North Korea are better than zambia today.At least they don’t pretend to be democracies like shameless GRZ under Sata the hypocrite.

  10. When thiefs are busy stealing and murdering people in the compounds,heavyarmed police are just wasting tax payers money like this.

    my fellow Zambians,lets us go beyond politics.This is no sense.What will happen in 2015 when elections will be around the corner.Cry my beloved Zambia.

  11. PF and Sata please behave. Leave Mumba and his disciples alone. Just warn them to follow the law kwasila. Do not make Mumba and the opposition seem to be a force to reckon with . PF listen to us for once, soon we will lose faith and trust in you. This is how self destruction comes. Zambians are observing. Don’t say you were not warned. Listen if you mean well for Zambia.

    Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia. 

    • HOW LONG HAVE WE TRIED TO TELL THESE GUYS TO FOLLOW THE L AW? THESE GUYS WANT TO TURN THEMSELVES INTO HEROES BY COMPROMISING OUR COUNTRY’S INSTITUTIONS AND YOU ATTACK THE PF. I AM NOT SAYING PF IS PERFECT. I AM SAYING JUST LOOK AT THIS MATTER FOR WHAT IT IS!!!

  12. They look so fine all of them. But don’t cheat us that you went to protest when you were merely doing some exercises after a long time. At least if the police manhandled you the way MMD cadres did to Kachingwe we would have concluded that things are serious.

  13. I am confused here. Is it not the MPs who make the laws? Are these MPs protesting against their own law? What these fellows are supposed to to do is to seat and repeal the law. Not go matching to state house.
    The four MPs in detention must even be ashamed for breaking the law made in the house they belong to.

    • This is a colonial-era law made by the British to suppress black people. Kaunda and subsequent governments kept it in order to suppress opposition to their policies. Opposition parties, including PF, promised to do away with this law if elected into government. This is where we are now – broken promises and suppressing the new opposition using the same law they promised to do away with. SHAME!!

  14. You MPs must be ashamed of yourselves? Some of you have been in parliament for years and are even laweyers? Why have you let this law to continue if you do not like it? Ba Pumbafu tamwakwata amano kanshi.

  15. Nevers and the suppoters, please do not bring unecessary confusion in our peacefull country. Follow the law and stay out of trouble!!!!!

  16. As Vice President, Pastor Mumba was the leader of the house in Parliament. He did not repeal the law. He infact loved it. What has changed now? Let him taste the sweet of the same law now.

  17. And surely what where those *****s of mps doing in lufwanyama when they were supposed to be in parliament attending to national business? Nivikawalawa kapena viyenda mukuba ng’ombe kumizi ivi viba suntwe imwe banthu

  18. Zambia is a failed state because we have leaders who are not fit to govern. Look at this state house road. it tells everything about the caliber of leaders we have.

    • Was the road worn immediately after PF came into power? For me this is a clear manifestation of the past failures attributable to the previous regimes. Notwithstanding, it is needless to say that the road to the state house should not be allowed to be in such a state of disrepair by any sitting govt. What would one expect in residentail areas that are less affluent?

    • You wrong, there is a valid GRZ. They are managing, even better than RB, LPM, and FTJ. Its just because the opposition are now too loose mouthed, they have no state secrets, they break POA at will and have no respect for incumbant president. For those reasons they will pay the price they deserve.

  19. I am very sorry to my fellow countrymen for voting Michael Sata. I should have listened to you people. This is a lesson to me and all who voted for this man. God help us!!!!!!!!!!!

    • What is that all about revenge naimwe Ba Dojo? Imagine your sister (I respect your Mother more), in same cell with males. When she wants to pee, every one will know. Lord have mercy on you Pathetic Fronts.

  20. Fr FRANK BWALYA,HON JEAN KAPATA INCLUDING SATA HIMSELF WERE ONCE DETAINED,SO THERE IS NOTHING STRANGE IN DETAINING LAW BREAKERS,POLICE HAVE A JOB TO DO ALSO.

  21. MPs, if you do not like the law, repeal it! But if the law is still on the books, it must be enforced. the Inspector General of Police, sister Libongani’s foot soldiers are just enforcing the law and I commend them for that. Alluta continua

  22. @lamfras and Kamuchele. That was the first question that came to my mind. What were these MPs doing on the CB breaking the law when they were supposed to be making useful and meaningful contributions to the debate in Parliament? I seriously hope that they will not be paid their salaries for the days they have not attended Parliament

  23. Nevers had an oversight, over looking the simple law and order provisions. He is a prominent man in Zambia and for him to simply start meeting chiefs is a minormal. He is no longer a simple man who can just go anywhere any time. Where ever he goes his presence is felt and disturbs usual life pursuits in the area. This implies everywhere he goes, its campaigning, typical when he visits chiefs. He should have let police know. Defiant of this reality will not help him. He must just follow law and order and there shall be no such trouble. His defiannce has led to disruption of Parliamentally proceedings, disturbedp police works, prison works, and all citizens are concerned. Nevers was wrong. He has personal heuman rights, but you don’t enjoy those rights whilst doing so against POA.

  24. The Equaliser where have you been?The police deny the opposition the permits each time they ask for one whilst the PF dont need one to hold rallies.And in any case do you need a permit to meet people in this case Chiefs.The beauty of what is happening is that the PF are doing a very good job of decampaining themselves.This is clearly self destruct mode we are seeing.

  25. DEAR BLOGGERS THIS ISSUE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SATA OR THE GOVERNMENT, ANY CIVILIZED ZAMBIAN CAN SEE THAT MUMBA DOESNT WANT TO FOLLOW ANY LAW UNDER PF LEADERSHIP, ALL HE IS ADVOCATING IS TO BUY PUBLIC SYMPATHY BY CONSISTENTLY BREAKING THE LAW.
    AND I JUST WONDER ABOUT PEOPLE MENTIONING SATA EVERY TIME. SATA DID NOT MAKE THAT LAW, HE FOUND IT AND HAS IT BEEN USED BY ALMOST THE PRESIDENTS ZAMBIA HAS HAD, AND MUMBA KNOWS THAT AS HE IS A PUBLIC FIGURE ,HE NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE LAW.WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM FOLLOWING THE LAW NOW WHICH HE FOLLOWED WHEN HE WAS IN MMD?

  26. Locking up men and women in the same cell is very disturbing, on whose orders was it done?
    It is degrading and primitive.

  27. Repeal the POA now wonder SATA at one time said he appreciated its existence.Its for things that this that he meant to apply it to.National Assembly should reppeal the POA because some presidents will abuse it.Its like we are in a state of emergency kind of thing.PATHETIC.

  28. SOMEHOW MMD ARE TO BLAME. THEY REFUSED TO REPEAL THESE DRACONIAN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY LAWS IN THE 20 YEARS THEY WERE IN POWER JUST BECOZ IT SUITED THEM. WHICH OPPOSITION LEADER NEVER SPENT A NIGHT IN CELLS/PRISON DURING MMD RULE? EVEN OLD MUSHUMFYA (KK) SPENT WEEKS IN MUKOBEKO, & A FEW YEARS UNDER HOUSE ARREST AFTER NYERERE FORCED FTJ TO LET HIM VISIT KK IN JAIL. PF ARE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE OF NOT REPEALING THESE LAWS.

  29. Imagine your female at state house (I used to respect your wife), in same cell with males. When she wants to pee, every one will know. Lord have mercy on you Pathetic Fronts.
    If the K1.5billion dollar woman was still woman, she could have rushed to help Irene Kunda save women from those… PF namunyela ku mwela.

  30. I wish we can have a real dictator in state house in this country so that he kicks hypocricy out of yo sick heads. Mmd it is the same law U used on pf . U almost killed Sata. Ask 4 forgiveness 4 de inhuman u meted on other citizens.

  31. This should make MPs learn that when you are in power do not suport stupid laws as one day the same could be used against you.

  32.  Zambian politicians are not above the law, they should respect the law. Mumba’s politics of provocation will not lead him anywhere, he should learn to respect the law if people are to respect him as well. Going around breaking the law to attract a few headlines is not the short to state house, it is the direct highway to Kamfisa prison. MMD are making it easy for the ruling party to weaken them because of arrogance and of lack of experience of the current leadership. MMD has party structures in all districts, why can’t they get a permit in those districts? You don’t need Mumba’s signature for everything you do.

  33. #47 yo contribution wud have some sense if mumba had complained of being denied a permit but he decided to break the law so we expect the law to be implemented.democracy does not mean campaigning thru and thru unless u convince us that we are in campaign period.luk at america we came to hear there were elections wen it was declared campaign period.advice the opposition to hold on than to do wrong things at the wrong time…imagine MPs who were supposed be in parliament deciding to abscond deliberations of the house of wich we elected them 4.. be sensible enough on this one..they shud remain in cell untill they explain why they did that…police do yo work

  34. Mumba knew what he was doing, even when Sata was in opposition he used to get police permits as by law. What has changed for other opposition leaders not to get police permit? Mumba’s behaviour is not different from a thug. Mumba want to distract the attention from his thuggery manner within his party, #8 where were you for the past 20yrs not to know that MMD did not maintain roads leading to State. You now asking a govt that is just there for less than a year and half? PF govt wants to help the rural population more than what you are advocating for. If you think PF is a one term govt then come home and witness the support.

  35. how mant times Sata spent times in jail under MDD rule or arrested for nothing under Banda through the police,intelligence DEC and ACC? MMD used use the police to target opposition leaders especially Sata and HH NEVER complained .the hate exhibited by the opposition is not taking them antwhere.

  36. @Pafwenamwine its better to shut your hole if you do not know what you are talking about. permits are for when you want to hold a rally and not just visiting a few chief. Ask your satan if he used to get permits to visit chief. This blind loyalty will not take this country anyway.

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