Police in Lusaka have summoned United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema for questioning over an alleged breach of the Public Order Act (POA).
The UPND leader is alleged to have broken the law during his door-to-door visits to houses and shops in Kabwata, an action that brought confusion and lawlessness.
Lusaka Province commissioner of police Charity Katanga said in an interview on Thursday that Mr Hichilema’s visits to shops and homes in Kabwata allegedly caused confusion.
“The UPND leader was busy going round the shops, so we have summoned him to appear before Kabwata Police Station officers at 10:00 hours. We just want to interview him,” she said.
Ms Katanga said, however, that police had not served the summons on Mr Hichilema by 17:40 hours yesterday.
She said being a public figure, the UPND leader is expected to notify the police before engaging in any public meetings, including visits to shops and residential areas.
Ms Katanga said Mr Hichilema has allegedly breached the POA and that is why police have summoned him.
“There is nothing wrong with him visiting an area but he is doing a certain action, which is breach of peace. The police want law and order to prevail,” Ms Katanga said.
She said political figures like Mr Hichilema attract attention and it is important for the opposition leader to adhere to the provisions of the POA
Mr Hichilema and his team have embarked on a campaign to visit constituencies around the country thanking voters who voted for the party. The move is also meant to have the UPND leader attached to the grassroots who critics say he has detached himself from.
charity katanga back in lusaka again.mamamama!!! upnd mwasanswa
Am Bemba but I think it’s now time for the Tongas to rule. Easterners are just there to finish the terms of the deceased. I can appreciate that the ruling class in Zambia are the Bembas but they have been id.iots for a time, let’s try the Tonga. Hang in there HH you will be the next man in there.
This POA madness should be done away with totally. Its total madness on the part of PF to expect people to follow this stupid law crafted in some one ‘s bum.
Sata did not need any police permission to move around because MMD never abused the POA at all.
The more PF does this, the more HH and UPND will be popular in Lusaka and other parts of the country.
If they continue to summon HH for questioning like this on flimsy grounds, then they should expect more breaches of this stupid stone age colonial POA, because more people will go to the police with HH in numbers that the police will fail to control.
Tensions are already high in the country because of fuel increase which will soon lead to food price increases. This is not the right time to provoke people by intimidating HH…
Now PF is not the time to stalk the simmering tensions as a result of PF lies.
Any attempt to arrest HH will spark a huge riot because people will then take advantage of the confusion at the police station to riot over fuel increases and high cost of living in the country generally.
Who ever is advising Lungu, is panicking and getting it all wrong.
What about Edgar in North-western province, isn’t that not a Pathetic Disorder?
To be fair the Police have a point
Thanks
BB2014
What a life, so you mean he can’t move around freely? He is a well known Man and we’ll respected. The problem with Zambian law is bias! I guess Lungu call the police asking them to stop him because he is a better man to rule the country.
Am PF and I still believe Sata meant well for all Zambians including the opposition but I think he failed to leave us in good hands. it’s time for Lungu and his ministers to go. Enough is enough. 2016 come quick.
Have respect and address the man accordin to his title.he is his excellency president Edgar. C. Lungu.lungu,lungu kwisa munobe?
This is good for HH, it means Lungu has felt a burn, if he was a non factor like Mulyokela, police wouldn’t say anything…This is Zambia for you, Police is not for all, but for the rulers..
Ka Kaminamisa Lungu, ka kolwa ubwalwa
so hh should never leave his yard becoz he is a public figure.sata was surposed to leave us with a normal real man not this chap
Seriously? Here is what the questioning will be like: Constable Broom Phiri; “Mr Hichelema why where you in Kabwata market on Wednesday?
Hichelema; I was buying tomato.”
Constable Broom Phiri; Why where you buying tomato?
Hichelema; For cooking.
Con broom Phiri; Can you describe the said tomatoes…Such nonsense.
If Hichelema wants to get out of his palatial residency to pretend to would be gullible voters that he is one of them, let him.
This is extreme and proper abuse of the law by those entrusted to police it. It is simply unbelievable! If it was not serious, it would have been a laughing matter on April fools day. Lessons from a southern neighbour being put into practicals perhaps?
What hogwash! You mean HH cannot visit shops and residential areas just because he is a public Figure? This is ldiocy of the highest order. Love or hate him, he’s coming. He just missed by one percentage in January. He’s coming to get you!
Shocking primitivism!
Charity Katanga et al PF police, your time of reckoning is definitely coming. No excuses to what is happening saying that “I or we were told to abuse the POA”.
Edgar Lungu is North Western, so can the police also summon him b’coz he’s bringing confusion. Its only fair.
HH should not even go to the market to buy food? Instead of arresting BANDITS who’ve been hiding the $193 million Kaloba from China, busy troubling an innocent man is shambolic.
Honestly speaking, PF is a very useless party, their brains are oozing maggots. Shame on PF police officers who are corrupt & very unprofessional.
Libongani, Katanga & Munganga, your time is near too, we’ll make sure you don’t even come out of your houses.
U’ll remember me!
The Skeleton Key…
@1.2 mwila,
What’s excellent about Lungu?
Shame on a disgraced , corrupt, inept and visionless regime. HH faka pressure. HH is a free citizen
YABA! UPND CADRES, THINK GENTS- IT’S EASY!!! IF HE WAS ATTACKED U WOULD HAVE SAID POLICE DON’T WORK THEY IGNORE OPPOSITION’S PLIGHT; HE IS A “PUBLIC FIGURE”- FOR A PUBLIC FIGURE THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN GOING TO BUY STUFF FROM THE SHOP AND HOUSE TO HOUSE OR DOOR TO DOOR POLITICAL VISITS. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO HIM HENCE THE NEED TO NOTIFY THE POLICE…IMWE FYONSE ATI NO ‘LUNGU THIS LUNGU THAT’- LET HIM SILENTLY GO TO CHIBOLYA THEN U WILL SEE SENSE IN THE POLICE’S CONCERN FOR HIM..
Mervis
HH was almost attacked yesterday by PF hooligans conversed charlatan cadres sent by the brutal Mumbi Phiri, veep secretary general of PF minions.
HH is a free citizen & has rights to thank the people who voted for him, so just chill out. Its only PF bandits who want HH bruised whatsoever. Just acknowledge that its primitivism of PF dunderheads who want ANARCHY.
Lungu et al PF BANDITS are hiding the $193 million, instead of helping the majority poor Zambians who even living in pathetic shanties.
This is ABOMINATION of peoples democratic rights. Your time to account for the ABUSE is certainly coming. All the breaches of the constitution by PF regrettable bandits is on record & will be judged too lol!
The Skeleton Key
~206~
Please STOP victimising HH (HH4K16).
what kind of nonsense is this, my goodness, let the man live. slowly but surely, I am drifting away from PF, what are they afraid of?
Yabaa! Seems he has to notify the police wherever he has to go immediately he leaves the confines of his compound! Some kind of prisoner on parole is he?
HEY, DON’T BE SO DULL. HH HAS VISITED MANY PLACES WITHOUT POLICE BEING CONCERNED, THESE PARTICULAR VISITS ARE PUBLIC POLITICAL VISITS BY A PUBLIC FIGURE- HENCE THE POA NEEDS BE FOLLOWED.
@ mervis
As you pretend to be “learned”, can you specify to any SPECIFIC section of POA that HH has allegedly infringed or broken?
Do you have right to visit market-place? Yes? So do HH. No you or any other person can be restricted in his movements without explicit ruling or order of the court.
Is he a prisoner, this is nosence of highest degree. Shld we all start askng for permits whn we going to visit shops? Ths is very bad.
Kaya ka tikuya. In mwana link was anyoko mulekeni tyala
Ni mwana lini wa anyoko . mulekeni mwine atandale.
I can’t believe this. I feel for my country when I read articles like this one. Leave HH alone.
From the days of:
Christine Mulundika & 7 others v The People (1995) and the Resident Doctors Association of Zambia and Others v Attorney-General. Case No: SCZ Judgment No. 12 of 2003
Our Courts have been clear; the Public Order Act cannot be used to subvert the inalienable rights of freedom of speech and association (Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution).
HH do not budge and let this matter once more be used to buttress our freedoms and enrich our country’s jurisprudence albeit with a predictable outcome.
Counsel Katanga, you know the law. Act the law and not the job.
Last kicks of a dying horse. PF know that their days are numbered in government. Not to worry, the Zambian people have already made up their minds. PF must go!
I thought eddie and his company of minions called HH’s visits an act of desperation. What kind of lawlessness occured during his visit??? Lungu is doing what Sata did, but he is picking the bad bits of his vision.
Awe Mwebantu! This is very bad, what’s wrong with our police officers, you are making our Party weak by arresting HH. If Edgar Lungu is really behind the summoning of HH come 2016 my vote will change. Our mother Veep is touring in northern province so is Edgar Lungu. What’s wrong with HH to thank people who voted him? Edigar Lungu those police officers will make this HH popular, just ignore HH. Ifintu ni Lungu but but but nayamba ukutwishika mwe
They’re just making him more popular
This is a blessing in disguise. The more they torment the guy, the more they broaden his name countrywide and the more they build him politically. After all, who can bother to throw stones at a tree which has no fruits? The darker the night, the closer the daylight. Pursue your vision brother, Rome was not built in a day. Moreover, the rejected stone ended up as the cornerstone.
TEST PAPER ONE
1) In Zambia, we have freedom of movement ……….. Wrong answer
2) In Zambia, we have freedom of association ……….. Wrong answer
3) In Zambia, we have freedom of speech ……………. wrong answer
So what do we have??????????????? Answer PF….. Correct answer
What a country where the police can sink so law? Sata used to go around, who used to stop him? this ka Ms Katanga will one day regret. This again is a bad instruction from Changwa. what breach of peace has HH caused for going to see how our are suffering? people were happy for him to carry tu ma pamela on his shoulder. So what breach of peace and rubbish of getting a police permit is Katanga talking about? this is why PM cabinet airport ministers don’t know how to bring development to the people because they only want to go to KK airport instead of visiting markets, shops and homes of people to see how people live. is Lungu happy to see Zambian lady workers being watched the way they are watched by ba Mwenye pa cashier til in little Bombay? Or Lungu just cares about drinking kachasu?
This is a primitive way of life. So HH should confine himself to his home and he cant visit mere shops? This is PFolice Force, not Zambia Police Service. Disappointed!
If he was attacked you will start changing
goal posts. Lets not always be critical(He is a Public figure and not like you)
HH has his own security Mr. Real so don’t worry about him being attacked, OK?
Mr Real attacked by who? You and your friends. Ain’t you the ones the police should summon.
For sure he needs to be arrested. He disturbed me from buying my chibwabwa from the market. I had to wait for this lawlessness guy to leave the market. Bufontini ba HH muleke.
Ulicende lihwide
And, I am spending hours waiting for motorcade of one star general to pass. Who is brigadier to enforce military law on civilians?
Zambians were warned that PF does not mean well for Zambians. If this can happen to one PF acknowledges as a public figure, what happens to common man when expresses a view different to PF government?, arrested by police, imprisoned even disappear without trace. This is what is worrying Zambians with our president learning lessons from Mugabe.
This must be the last administration to exercise this useless public order act ever. It is disgusting that we continue to try and stifle free public participation in the affairs of the nation even when the purpose for which POA was created have looong been overtaken by events and time! Let’s embrace the 21st Century gracefully and stop being st.up.id… I will not forget to add that those silly reflectors must cease to be part of any law in a civilized society. Stop defacing peoples’ cars and profiting from those who resist self-vandalism of their vehicles.
Please tell me this article is fake. Are telling me that its a crime to visit the mentioned places for a political leader? Now I completely agree to those pushing for a new constitution. This is pure primitivism. Common Zambians, we deserve better than this.
Please tell me, when do you expect the opposition leaders to engage the common people so that they can explain their policies? Well, ZP, go ahead and make Mr Hichilema even more popular
Are you telling me that its a crime to visit the mentioned places for a political leader?….
I pity Stella Libongani. The zambia police seems to be so disjointed. I wonder if her commissioners even respect her.
…and the first thing we shall do when we get in power in September 2016 is to set up a tribunal on the US$192 pin secret loan. So all the signatories and officers at MoF get ready as witnesses.
Ba Mervis,we see Chipimo and Gen Miyanda every day in shops in our residential areas.are they not public figures?Lets be serious pipo.
I keep telling you the level of dictorship in the country is increasing
The critical comments levelled against President Lungu are out of context here.
However, the Police Command are completely out of order, unless they have heard or seen HH inciting people to break the peace.
Iwe boyi the police work under instruction(s). This whole no sense is coming from the likes of Kambwili and Mumbi the Pre school teacher. Ba PF can you please lead us in the right direction?
It is the President who instructed police. And as usual, he say “jump” and puppy mongoloids are jumping.
the reason HH does something contrary to public order act its bcos he wants everyone to feel pity on him so tt he wins the popularity tts compaign strategy he wants to copy evry thing sata went thru in order to go to plot one. and y holding bana kulubantu wen he has neva huged his wife in public
@CHANDA GUESS MY 4YR OLD DAUGHTER CAN REASON BETTER THAN YOU.WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU THE COUNTRY CANT GO FORWARD.ZAMBIANS DESERVE BETTER THAN YOU PF GUYS…
PITY FOR WHAT?FOR THANKING THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HIM… PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING OUT THERE CHANDA.DONT BE SO BLIND ITS ONLY PITY THAT A LOT OF ZAMBIANS THINK THEY DON`T DESERVE BETTER.GO OUT THERE SIR AND SEE HOW OTHER COUNTRIES ARE DOING.NOT MU CHIBOLYA AND YOU ARE HAPPY
You are failing to govern ba PF. Do not make HH popular by slapping him with cases that will never succeed. What you are doing right now is to give air space to HH for free. Is it possible to start thinking? There are a lot of issues to sort out….Petrol has gone up, mealie meal is still expensive, the kwacha is misbehaving, the cabinet is too big, the constitution has to be fixed, the budget cannot balance……..Can you guys please provide leadership?
I support the police on this one (or even EL). These visits will cause havoc one day. It is him to be attacked and we will all say it is because of EL. I also agree that he had better do that only in the presence and with permission from police. For sure he is free to go to any shop but not with the intention to thank people for voting or not voting for him. He has the correct idea, but he is doing it wrongly and dangerously. He will only have himself to blame if he continues in this manner definitely. I have contribute.
Oh my God, what has become of Zambia. Now you need to notify the police before you visit a shop or a residential place? This is not acceptable and what type of law are the police using to summon HH.
HH is a free citizen and has a right to go anywhere he wants including State house.
Police stop being unreasonable and so far this is the highest ignorance the police has exposed. Shame.
What kind of politics is this? You notify them each time you leave your house just becuase you are public figure.
Nonsense. Next time HH should spend a night in these townships as a visitor and we will see. You cannot even visit friends and relatives and each time you notify. Is he under house arrest? Cry my beloved country.
The police force is supposed to act in professional manner and not influenced by politicians. Last week Kambwili overstepped his mark and ordered the police to arrest the person who had leaked information about the secrete loan. Police actions is supposed to be lead by where they can find evidence of criminality not remote controlled by dim wits like Kambwili. Now here are questions for Kambwili which require answers.
1. Why did government want to make the loan a secrete?;
2.Did they have dodgy intentions may be lining their pockets?;
3.Whose idea was it ?
4.Can he cite now country in the world which has a policy of secrete loans
Let HH alone,why are you afraid of him? Am ni Kambwili doing these tactics.Alishupa with his loud mouth.
TIZAKUONANI CHAGWA LUNGU 2016; WE DO NOT NEED EARLY CAMPAING BA MBULI.ALWAYS EARLY CAMPAING BUT TIKUKOLOPANI ALL TIMES MWANWA
MULYOKELA WALKS FREELY ALONG CAIRO ROAD YOU DONT ARREST HIM
WHAT HAS HH DONE TO YOU??
Sorry ladies but could this be the reason why we have all these women Police commanders?
This directive from EL is for the trash bin