Thursday, March 28, 2024

UPND reacts to attacks on MMD President Nevers Mumba and his team

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Teargas canisters thrown by Police
Teargas canisters thrown by Police

The opposition UPND is shocked and appalled by the reported tear-gassing of an in door meeting MMD President Nevers Mumba was chairing on Friday yesterday in Lundazi Eastern Province.

The UPND is particularly shocked that the teargas canister was thrown by a police officer who is supposed to be trained in handling such deadly weapons.

The UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said that  his party finds it to be criminal and is calling upon the Police command to take appropriate disciplinary measures against the said officer and his supervisors.

Below is the full statement issued by UPND

We are shocked and appalled by the tear-gassing and harassment of MMD President Nevers Mumba and his team yesterday in Lundazi in Eastern Province where he was addressing an indoor meeting. What is even more shocking is that this teargas canister was thrown by a police officer who is supposed to be trained in handling such deadly things. This is a criminal act and we call upon the Police Service to take appropriate disciplinary measures against the officer and his supervisors.

This is a gross violation of their freedoms and democratic rights, and such behaviour should not have any place in our democratic nation. Dr Mumba was addressing an indoor meeting, which does not require a police notification. It is a illegal for the police to disrupt a peaceful meeting and perhaps Dr.Mumba should sue the Police for criminal trespass.

As we have been on the receiving end of this unwarranted force repeatedly since 2011, we truly sympathise with those who have suffered and we offer our support to any calls for redress.

Regrettably while we are dismayed by this latest attack on opposition politicians we are no longer surprised by such incidents. Under the PF these attacks and the trampling of democratic freedoms has become routine, to the detriment of our nation and to our great shame. Once again we call for reform of the Public Order Act. It has become clear that so long as it remains in its current form the PF will use it to try and justify all sorts of repression and authoritarian behaviour. In his usual rhetoric, President Lungu in his opening speech in Parliament said he is directing parliament to review the POA. Has that happened? In Lundazi, we saw deplorable Police action against innocent and peaceful citizens encouraging lawlessness instead of maintaining law and order.

There must be an end to the use of police officers for political agendas or the hope for free and fair elections in 2016 will be brought into question. President Lungu should now make a clear and public statement on this matter and openly condemn the persecution of anyone on the basis of their political affiliation. Such incidents also demonstrate why we still urgently need to secure a new Bill of Rights for Zambians which was thrown away by PF.

We once again appeal to the PF Government to channel their energies into governing and delivering on the promises they have made to the Zambian people, rather than spending their time hounding the opposition. If they could concentrate on governing then we can start to repair the damage done and improve life for citizens across the country.

Charles Kakoma
UPND Chair – Media

Teargas canisters thrown by Police
Teargas canisters thrown by Police
Nevers Mumbas Special Assistant Clement-Siame-arguing with the Police
Nevers Mumbas Special Assistant Clement-Siame-arguing with the Police
Argument escalating outside meeting room
Argument escalating outside meeting room

33 COMMENTS

    • One wonders what is written in their training manuals as regards the usage of tear gas. Actually, so far, it seems the non existent training manual for policing in general either requires an overhaul or more to the point, the one issuing orders at the very top (to the police) needs to be removed permanently from duty. The police actions represent a clear and present danger to all citizens. That can’t remain the status quo…

    • After analyzing the video, I have come to the conclusion that the policeman in blue jumper and green coat standing with a canister in his hand is the one that caused the mayhem.

    • I have one massage to Dr Mumba; next time, please dont attack your fellow opposition just to please the ruling party. I remember not long ago when Dr Mumba went on and on about how diplomatic he is, how he has been called on international conferences and promoted Zambian, etc.. He was indirectly attacking HH for the speech HH gave in UK when HH highlighted some of the issues that were crippling investments in Zambia.

      This must be humiliating for Dr Mumba after praising PF lately and supporting them (PF) on the fake constitution amendments. Guess who is supporting you now Dr Mumba, the same HH’s party that you were attacking not long ago. I hope you have learned your lessons.

  1. Brainwashing Tools “They” Use Against Our Children — How to Counter Them
    From birth, virtually all of us have been brainwashed through various outlets that encourage materialism, ego, subservience, control and conformity. But where do the origins of mind control begin and what can we do about it?

    1. Religion

    As children, the brainwashing begins in the church when we are baptized. Many parents do not question baptism or the origins of it and blindly have their children baptized as the church welcomes them into the community in the name of Jesus Christ. The Jesus story, alone, isn’t questioned by enough Christians who blindly believe anything they are told in the name of “faith”.

  2. PF govt recruits its caders as police officers so this is the result thats why HH one time informed us that pf was sending militias to Sudan for military training.
    And Mr Mumba you were told not to attend natinal prayers for reconciation but you went ahead to appease ECL. Now you realised that the prayers were just political as it was called to calm Zambians when the dollar was going crazy at K14. Shame PF and viva HH

  3. But why speak on behalf of MMD? Is UPND now a spokesperson for opposition parties? Nevers Mumba is a man who is never intimidated by such acts but why do you think you can be his spokesperson! Please stick to your party’s agenda.

    • Whether Nevers Mumba is intimidated or not is immaterial. The fact is that serous violations of human rights have been committed while the ***** president Lungu is dancing in a ZAF uniform to the excitement of starving unemployed PF cadres.

      This Kaminamisa needs to put his house in order and get his priorities right.

      Meanwhile Aleisa HH

  4. The UPND is speaking on behalf of the nation. It does not matter who is at the brunt of this brutal regime at any point in time, all reasonable humans, parties, agencies and human rights advocates need to condemn it in the strongest possible terms. I would go so far as to suggest that if Zambians don’t react now, they will live to regret having allowed such nincompoops masquerading as a government (PF) to do as they please. The PF and Lungu are a sorry excuse for humanity. A despicable lot that has no place in a civilised world. We have hitherto thankfully not gone down the human destructive path of many an African nation. But with this continued PF imbecility, the warning lights are emerging. This govt. must be stopped now!

  5. UPND is now desperate. MMD never voted with you in what your finished party is calling piece meal constitution, especially those from other provinces. Sympathise the MMD MPs from North western a.and western provinces (exclude Limaata & Kaingu) Don’t waste your time thinking Kalima, Mutati, Kunda and other progressive MMD MPs can again waste their time campaigning for a perpetual loser.United & Preparing. for Next Defeat (UPND) that is what you are and will always be

  6. These pipo why didnt u get a permit? Its clear no permit no meeting. Mind u the police has duty to protect u and look at the interest of the public remember that these meetings are for a few pipo but when violence breakout it will affect innocent pipo.the best is any public gathering police shud know to plan how to protect u. Dont fight zp they are there for u. Its just like if want media coverage know how to treat them well but otherwise u face it. President/pf may not tell them anything but the fact that u want to bypass them i tell u ~ this time its ok in chiluba and banda we saw pipo ~wait for police to give u way its yo protection u refuse u go thru roof tops and dont cry ~

    • @mweetwa,
      I am sure you are smarter than this. Read the article again, it says ” Dr Mumba was addressing an indoor meeting, which does not require a police notification”. And for proof of indoor meeting, watch the video clip of the incident in question again. Be objective.

  7. I SUPPORT POLICE HERE NO PERMIT NO MEETING. WE DON’T WANT CONFUSION IN THE NATION. WHY CANT U WAIT FOR COMPAIGN PERIOD. UPND/MMD CAMPAIGNED IN ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNRY BUT WERE BEATEN BY SOMEONE WHO JUST USED TWO WEEKS . EVEN IF U CAN ALLOWED U WILL STILL LOOSE. THE PROBLEM UPND HAS PROVOCKING POLITICS WHERE THEY WANT TO ATTACK GOVT AND MARK IT TO BE USELESS INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING ISSUES. POLICE NEXT TIME DO A GOOD JOB ON OFFENDERS MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER

    • Tell I.d.i.o.t Lungu, his wife Esther, obese Kambwili, Davies Chama to all wait for campaign period as well. They are freely going around the country dishing out fertilizers in Luanshya, having meetings in Choma, Kawambwa etc without any police permits

    • @jkalusa,
      Stop shouting(CAPs) and read the article again, it says ” Dr Mumba was addressing an indoor meeting, which does not require a police notification”. And for proof of indoor meeting, watch the video clip of the incident in question again. What offence has UPND committed?

  8. The so-called freedom fighters inherited colonial statutes and kept them largely intact. All leaders since have kept repressive colonial laws on the books with very little change. These fo.ols writing long statements of condemnation will do exactly the same or worse when or if the take power. It is in the nature of Afrikans to relish the suffering of others at their hands. I still cannot quite comprehend why this is.

  9. Police permit or not, what should a reasonable Police Officer do? Charge and arrest if need arises. If no eminent danger was present, what was the purpose of tear-gasing an indoor meeting? If others can speak freely anywhere, anytime they choose simply because they are in the ruling party, how do we understand and define the tenets of democracy? It has been said and written that the people you find on your way up, are the same people you will find on your way down. Simply because you are presently not affected by wrong actions, doesn’t mean that tomorrow you are guaranteed to be spared. Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you….

  10. UPND U ARE SHOCKED WITH SMOCK ONLY: U REPEAT WHAT U AT WINA ‘S PLACE THEN U WILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE THERE TO PROTECT EVERYONE NOT JUST U POKOPOKOS. U WANT SOME MORE, DO IT WITHOUT A PERMIT THEN U VE INVITED ZP.

    • @kalota,
      Stop shouting(CAPs) and read the article again, it says ” Dr Mumba was addressing an indoor meeting, which does not require a police notification”. And for proof of indoor meeting, watch the video clip of the incident in question again. What offence has UPND committed?

  11. Comment: if cadres fight each other police is blamed hence poa put in place. politicians know that campain meetings are not nationl duties they are party duties ministers do govt duties no need of a notification. parties notify the police not just yaing nosense

  12. Add your comments you poor family: lm absolute sure that you pfools are strongly convinced now that your governance is exactly that of ANIMAL FARM like, where some bloody stup!d id!ots pigs in your regime are said to have more rights than these others specially in the opposition! Come 2016, you are therefore headed to be given a school of hard knocks for the abuse of office you ‘ve done mr sangoma lungu kaminamisa & your tribal pundit boxes like kambili, chama, chanda, mwila etc.. Viva only to the son of the soil HH & his UPND air lined 2016 flighty to plot one!

  13. What do you expect from UPND that has failed to respect its party constituition? Kagame has joined Mugabe in wamuyayaya. pliz UPND go for a conversion you are a danger to our democracy

    • @peters,
      Are we reading the same article? The article says, ” Dr Mumba was addressing an indoor meeting, which does not require a police notification”. And for proof of indoor meeting, watch the video clip of the incident in question again. Please clarify what offence has been committed here, and by who?

  14. Get yourselves a bloo.dy fuc.king per mit and stop yapping. There is a law in this country called Public Order Act. Until you change it, it remains law whether you like Edgar Lungu or not, whether you accept him as your President or not, it is law and the police are there to enforce laws. Ironically the MMD had a chance to change this law and they didn’t. Now the same MMD is crying foul, come on Nevers Mumba. Somehow Politicians seem to like this law, even HH would tell you he loves it, in the very unlikely event that he became the president after sorting out his immediate problem of running mate……kikikikiki

  15. bambi mulanda kwati muli bamano sana and yet if u were to form govt lets say in 2099, u will stil follow the same POA. ZP is doing a recommendable job, NO PERMIT NO MEETING even if its indoors so long as its a political meeting….. BRAVO ZP……..BRAVO TEAM LUNGU

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