Police have denied the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) a permit to hold peaceful demonstrations over the Constitution.
Police spokesperson Charity Chanda said the request from the UPND was written on February 27, 2014 through party deputy secretary general Kuchunga Simusamba and addressed to Lusaka Province Police Commissioner, Lemmy Kajoba.
Ms Chanda said in an interview in Lusaka today that the UPND should exhaust all avenues of dialogue over the Constitution before opting to hold demonstrations.
In the UPND letter, Mr Simusamba wrote to inform the police about the party’s intention to demonstrate at Parliament buildings on the March 5, 2014 between 12:00 hours and 17:00 hours to push Government to release the draft Constitution.
Ms Chanda advised the opposition party to heed Dr Matibini’s advice to use dialogue as the means to resolve issues surrounding the Constitution.
“Yes, we wrote to them (UPND) on Friday. There were some concerns we rose which we wanted them to work on before getting back to us,” Ms Chanda said.
When contacted for comment, UPND secretary general Winston Chibwe said he had not seen the police response yet as he was not at the secretariat.
Mr Chibwe said his party would use other means to demand for the release of the draft Constitution.
Awesome ! The police did the right thing.Keep it up Charity and your group.
Enjoy for a very short period of time. We know you will be out of the J.O.B after 2016. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven, Malachi 3:1”. There is a time to come and a time to go.
Kajoba is protecting citizens from PF militias. He may be fired because all those machettes in PF Matero warehouse are waiting to be used.
Instead of policing, now Police has become advisory body for the Speaker.
If I was Speaker, I would be ashamed to sink so low.
Instruments of oppression! There is need to overhaul the whole police system once we have a new constitution and government. This police force is our inherent abominable inheritance from the colonial system and the fearsome Kaunda regime. The uniform too should be changed to a smart white shirt to expose the untidy police personnel. Anyone who doesn’t know that our men and women in uniform are corrupt is not worthy. The police behave in this way for fear of retribution from the head of state hence the new constitution which will stop this abuse of power. The mere fact of the natter is that we have bestowed all powers in one person. Ahead with the constitution – Ahead with dual citizenship and we promise we won’t take your poxy jobs away from you. We will create our on but need a…
…. we will create our own jobs and businesses that will employ the majority unemployed folks. We need a level playing field! All great nations embrace dual citizenship. Most european countries do. The USA does and goes further by making sure all children born on American soil whether born from non-American parents are made citizens by virtue of birth. Zambia is a big country with a very small population. We need a bigger population to drive the economy but I am equally aware of the fact that infrastructure is required to sustain this population growth. I am happy the dependence syndrome is quickly dying in Zambia were an extended family of 70 people depended on one person who would be king among them. He’d be proud of handing out non-empowering freebies and then he’d blow his trumpet.
PF can’t stop the will of the people – it happened in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and now in Ukraine, and the day is coming in Zambia when all the working class and students will be on the streets of our towns and shanty compounds burning and looting. Sata achepa sana compared to how politically powerful KK was – but his day too came, and so wil Sata’s. The clock is steadily ticking towards that day, hour, minute and second…watch the space!!!!
@Soulosi
You sound as foolish as you look in the picure.
PF Police. Self importance, corrupt and very dull. Worse than Mine Police.
The constitution is not for politicians alone, but for all of us, including your children.
Wake up Kaboke!
That’s the PF for you – theirs is the LOO OF LAW!
The police are only to be notified and have no obligations whatsoever to refuse. These PF police cadres are a disgrace to the rule of law, very useful and unprofessional.
This is a clear testimony that the Zambian police cadres don’t want the people driven constitution but the ANIMAL one.
The health of Munganga is deteriorating at an alarming rate, check up before tax payers folk out for self inflicted illnesses. Munganga typical PF cadre mentality and nothing else.
People want the constitution NOW.
50 + 1 clause is a useless one. The world cup can be won just by a goal. You can pass an exam with just one point above the cut off point. That’s life. So if someone wins the presidency by 49% he is a winner. The so called re run is just the waste of national resources.
You are agreeing with the 50 + 1. In this case we have 50% as cut off point. So a point above the cut off point is the plus 1.
Far best than PF’s 37% of 2011. Wake up and face reality.
Daft chap! First at the begining of the match there are only two teams and ref on the pitch. 50-50. They play until one team scores 1 or more goals, 50 + 1. If you score less goals than opponent, you’re out
Malabishi comments above
And is it any coincidence that they have used that ugly Muchinga woman to convey the draconian message?
Ba mwinsho who do u think u r? Your stupid comments against police wont help you. they are a law enforcement agency and peace makers,who does nt know u? very stupid.under the current political situation,its not safe coz of stupid persons like who ll just take advantage to cause confusion.
Its not the job of the police to advise political parties when to dialogue or not and over what issues they should hold dialogue!
Demonstrations are part of dialogue!!!
So who decides that all avenues have been exhausted? Nonsense! You can never exhaust all avenues in any given situation because opening one avenue cotton balls to multiple other avenues.It seems Ignorance has become the new celebrated virtue in zed
Stupid statements by ignorant police! Zambia is (should be) a free country where anyone can demonstrate whenever they want.
If the police do not want a demonstration, THEY should go to court and get an injunction. That is how a real justice system works.
Our lions in Zambia are finishing because white farmers are breeding them for trophy hunters! Each Lion is sold for $50000 and one farmer on Mumbwa road fifteen kilometres from Lusaka has forty lions you do the Maths? How much of that money is going to our government in tax if any?
How can they be finishing in the wild when he is breeding them on his farm?
Explain more and give references. We’ll expose them to the international law against animal exploitation and abuse (cruelty to animals)
@G max! that’s why we need more info as there has been some laziness in giving out that depressing news by Mulenga. I suppose the white farmers are setting up traps and catching these animals from the wild to rear them in enclosures. If 1000 farmers each went out to own 10 lions each then that would be 10000 removed from their natural habitat. These are ferocious animals and unprofessional capturing would be a battle of all battles bringing death to either the beast or the captor. May be they are darted. I will say one thing though – I don’t think the white farmers would go out lion ‘catching’ but certainly pay the locals to do it.
The Con in Conservation on YouTube is happening in Zambia
I think ranting on about white farmer etc is out of context here. This lion issue obviously needs looking into. Don’t agree with canned hunting but your figures are really unresearched. And way off. Trying to smuggle even one lion would attract heavy interest or back handers. Meanwhile……many other sectors make more money than breeding $ 2m worth of lion through financial twists. Stick to the point of the topic here and stop trying to create a problem where at least as far as most “white farmers” goes others are focussed on the right thing. Take it to ZAWA and report it to the vetinary department.
What would happen if we all in large numbers disobeyed?
Numbers bigger not witnessed before!
What would happen if all towns did it simultaneously, assembling at civic centres?
No work that day! The day of protests!
Is it possible?
Oh yes,
It is,
HOW?
Same as the end of Chilubas 3rd term!
Every day at 17:00 honk your horn!
Lilayi boys will graduate earlier for the event.Dont say you were not warned.
The problem with our law enforcers is that they have to consult the party in power before they attend to any request or make any meaningful decision. This the problem of choosing cadres in such important jobs. Anyway time will tell. PF will pay for all these mistakes. 2016 is not too far. Let them enjoy for now but time of reckoning is coming.
One animal in the ministry of drunkards has already contradicted the statement!
Someone help! why is Sata appointing mostly women to head many police high positions?
I thought you wanted equal right with your gender nonsense.Whats the issue?
PF DONT FORGET EASILY
Its apity that Pf is forgettern the way it assumed power so early.
The MMD government gave Mr. Sata Micheal Chilufya our current Republican President the whole freedom of conducting politics in the country. He was never restricted as he is doing to opposition to day. This action is actually decampaigning PF alot. Its a time PF changed its approach to national duties. Very soon his MPs he is calling useless will soon start telling him that we should to advise him but could not take advise. So Mr. President you still have time to repair the damaged reputation by giving people of Zambia a constitution you promised us. That why people believed in you and voted for you. So dont be rebelled to be deceitful. You still have time to loved once again.
Police be fair in your dealings , remember 2016 is not very far . Some of you start parking , we shall never need your service ok .
what is the role of the pf police..to advise the speaker..?kekekekeke..yaba..
Why should the Police “Force” appoint itself as the judge on political activities? This is very serious – UPND should sue them so that they can explain!
They are busy creating useless precedents which is why Zambia cant move forward because wise iniatives are blocked and frustrated by id.io.ts like these uneducated Bujus and yet the constitution will benefit them as well!!
Your days are getting numbered by the day ZP
UPND the Useless People, Naughty Diks. theres no need to demonstrate. The channels of dialogue have not even been exhausted. your partys fast becoming violent and irrelevant. replace your party leadership and improve on your ratings with the electorate. (HH) will be the death of you. ignore this advice at your own peril
Well done law enforcement make sure they deal with all procedures b4 allowing gathering..
Dull and unprofessional Zambian PFolice which is just an evil branch of PF mafia govt out to trynize the opposition and the innocent Zambians.Disband this force,retrain and instill a new culture to make it better and save Zambia.
We can do without Shakasfuswas threatened “defence team” thanks. Spear chuckers are out of context in this century
Obviously this PF government doesn’t care about human rights, Zambia is slowly becoming a dictatorship!! Let’s vote wisely in 2016 brother’s and sister’s before we lose our beautiful country
PF you are destroying all our governance structure in the country which is not a good sign at all. When did police become a political adviser? One can only wish this lady understand the implication of her statement. effectively now police is part of the legislature structure. What a shame and scheme.
Chi Animal, tell me what the procedure is in getting a permit to demonstrate peacefullly.
LET THEM DEMONSTRATE, PLUS NI KAJOBA EULIKO NOMBA BAZA MENYEWA MPAKA KUNYA. ANY WAY THEY ARE USED TO BEING PANEL BEATEN. NOW THEY HAVE EVEN STOPPED THREATENING TO REPORT THE BEATINGS TO THE AU. INFACT THEY SHOULD BE REPORTING TO COMESA AND SADC WHICH ARE JUST ON THEIR DOOR STEPS.