Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu said Members of Parliament do not need to get Police permission to hold meetings in their constituencies.
This follows complaints by some Members of Parliament who have been stopped by Police in their respective areas from holding meetings with their people with Lubansenshi Independent member of parliament Patrick Mucheleka being one of them.
On Wednesday, June 4th 2013, Independent member of parliament Patrick Mucheleka was harassed by police officers dressed in full combat kit and brandishing guns and other weapons as he interacted with the local community in his constituency. According to the officers, he had committed an offence by not obtaining permission from the Luwingu District Commissioner and the officer in charge to venture into his constituency.
On June 29th Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba told Parliament that Members of Parliament (MPs) who wish to hold public meetings in their constituency are to give notice to Local police command in accordance with the Public Order Act.
[pullquote]the law states that Members of Parliament do not need to get Police permission to hold meetings.[/pullquote]
However Mr Edgar Lungu in a ministerial statement in Parliament today, on the observance of the public order Act in relation to whether Members of parliament, need to seek authority from Police to visit their constituencies said the law states that Members of Parliament do not need to get Police permission to hold meetings.
He said government is in the process of enlightening the Police on the provisions of the public order Act.
Mr Lungu added that government is also considering reviewing the public order Act in the long-term to ensure that Members of Parliament enjoy the same privileges and rights.
And Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini said he was concerned with the situation were Members of Parliament were being asked to get Police permission to hold meetings in their constituencies.
Dr. Matibini told the house that he had a productive meeting with the Home Affairs Minister and his Justice counterpart over the matter.
He stressed the need to strike a balance between the public order Act and the need for Members of Parliament to perform their functions without hindrance.
They only have to check with the PF Cadres first.
Did Winter Kabimba pass law school? Why did he lie that MPs are suposed to get police permission.Are they running the government on trial and error? This is serious? And these are supposed to be the brains in PF?Mawe! Maybe TB Joshua is right.
@Mbiji, he did but barely. He decided to lie because he knows most of our MPs do not read documents and so were unlikely to verify the information. The problem is that the Speaker being a learned lawyer himself and custodian of parliamentary process allowed Winter to lie. He did not need to wait for complaints before he acted.
ok we dont have a govenrment, sata will go in history as the waste president zambia will ever have
I thought every citizen planing to organise a rally of more than One individual is supposed to get permission from the police or civic center? Are some special comprising of blue blood?
awe cindy,,,,“rally of more than one individual“ ..??? what are you talking about??my diamond/gold interest in you is now being affected with that statement,,,,
Off course MPs should interact freely with thier voters,, to answer questions and explain themselves,, and most important to see for themselves what is happening on the gorund
Then they should specify what they are talking about, a meeting is not the same as a rally, who speaks of getting permision from the police for a meetings anyway, policians be serious dont just bring any news on the site we take every thing serious!
As for those stones, keep them coming or not, Ndobo? The island wont wait for me!
tired of waiting for sata’s demise.
Me too.That would be a blessing.
This morons in PF govt are full of contradiction and wonder whether they have cabinet meetings! One skank says this another charlatan says that! Or dea! Poor Zambians are being ruled by try your luck leaders.
MPs are the problem first and foremost. Most do not even know the first article of our constitution, like most posters on Lusakatimes. Then our police service are only now knowing that they are our employees, instructed to protect and serve. Now let us all read up on our constitution.
@Ola, why are you being polite ati “morons” just say ni Vipuba. Achitsilu!!!
A lungu when sobber mu yo-oya vi weme! you speak wisely when sobber, the Kabwili announces the 90 days get a permission to hold a rally or twalk to your constituency after eating katapa act!
Ati why are you calling them morons or Cameroon whatever just call them Chimbwes…no plan.So these guz are proud to call themselves govt official,bene Edgar,what a joke?
Even bene Liato we were saying ni kawalala but there behaved like ministers.There were consistent in their statement unlike ba PF.There look lost most of the times just embarrassing themselves,ba kabimba monga sibanaganako na mu class.
It is not necessarily about MP’s getting permission whenever they are trying to hold a meeting. I think what was reported was that it is important that MP’s inform the police whenever they are visiting constituencies. It is for their own security and equally it created a rapport for communication between the police and MP’s. MP’s at times travel with bundles of money in their vehicles, which could be a very good recipe for trouble with criminals. It brings about organization and harmony of operation between government all MP’s in general. I dont see anything wrong with informing either state house or the police that one MP will be visiting his/her constituency, I see good only in that.
@ Kaingo
The reasons you have put forward why you feel MPs need to inform Police are too malnourished and thus leave your position fundamentally flawed.Do you know of any MP, who because of not informing the Police in the past, has been harassed by people in his/her constituency? And rapport, in your view, between the two stakeholders will exist only when MPs get permission or inform the Police? Further, in a feeble attempt to lend credence to your assertion, you bring a supposition that MPs carry bundles of money hence the need to get permission. Again do we have any case of any such anywhere and a possible increase in such or similar cases? Aren’t these mere assumptions?
By changing its position the Government has realised that it erred and must be applauded for heeding the cry.
Since when did this insecurity for MPs start and who is threatening their security in this country? We have never had this problem since 1964? What has led to this insecurity?
Hmm, so do I need to get a permit when I hold a birthday party for my children? Has the Public Order Act been enacted?
If so, what does it state. I don’t think anything good can come out of this — police arresting anyone without trial. Is this suppose to serve or punish citizens? Should we feel scared or feel comforted when we see the police. I don’t know.
All I can say is there are so many other acts that can be enacted that serve the masses; such as requiring police to have a decent level of education before they are given guns, clubs and tear gas.
Nothing good can come from this when some people are more people than others.
#Bufi
It seems Winter Kabimba is the biggest problem in the PF cabinet, nothing sensible ever comes from his mouth although I hear he is a lawyer.
PF is a party full of paranoid individuals, they are manipulative and this behavior is going to cost them dearly, not so long ago they where in opposition, they had the freedom of assembly and no one not even MMD carders gave them a whip for that…I know power corrupts but this is mayhem…surely there must be at least one sane people in the party
VERY SORRY AND SAD ABOUT WHAT I AM SEEING HAPPENING TO MY COUNTRY.
FREEDOM IS BEING DENUDED.
Zambians, we have scored two. “No police permit” for MPs and no “Gabon disaster” for our grand stadium. MPs have been a let down.
Too much SUBSIDISED alcohol and other delights of life at Parliament Motel for our MPs to read important documents and concentrate on important national issues.
Surely, the statement by the Justice Minister ORDERING MPs to get permission from the Police to visit and conduct meetings in their constituencies was an expensive and mocking abuse of office act which the MPs should have loudly/noisly/publicly flushed down the toilet immediately it came out. With these kinds of MPs we are doomed, for now, I mean, not forever.
Hon. Mucheleka (Lubanseshi) an Hon. Mulusa (Solwezi something), so far very good. The rest, question mark.
Set a thief to catch a thief….smart thieves!
PF is the worse under 5 govt in Africa. one statement from one and another from another the next day.
Its true the police need education! Too dull these chaps!!! Kufakila kumozi na kabimba
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