President Edgar Lungu has said that reports of violence recorded on Tuesday in Southern Province are a clear reason why the country needs the Public Order Act to govern people’s behavior.
President Lungu said that there would be chaos in the country in the absence of the Public Order Act.
The Head of State said such incidences should be condemned by all well meaning Zambians.
President Lungu said that people should be free to belong to any political party of their choice because Zambia is a democratic country.
He was speaking in an interview with journalists at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport upon arrival from his tour of Eastern Province.
Yesterday, a total of 21 suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres in Choma have been apprehended by the Police following a riot that occurred on Tuesday.
Deputy Inspector General of Police –Administration Eugene Sibote who confirmed the arrests yesterday said the Police had also impounded a Toyota Corolla Registration number AJB 4809 which was used by three cadres to cause commotion during the confusion.
Deputy IG said the UPND cadres that had gathered on the Choma-Livingstone main road in anticipation to receive their party president Hakainde Hichilema, blocked traffic , climbed on moving trucks and started throwing stones at passing motor vehicles which resulted in three of them including a Police Land Cruiser ZP 2312B being damaged.
“In trying to restore order, three police officers sustained injuries after being stoned by the rioters. Arising from the unruly and riotous behavior, police used tear gas to disperse the cadres,” Mr Sibote said.
Mr Sibote condemned the conduct of the UPND cadres and warned that the Police would not condone any acts of violence.
The conduct by UPND cadres as witnessed in Choma shall not be condoned and for this reason, all the apprehended suspects will be taken to court and prosecuted for their involvement in the riotous activity.
“It is unfortunate that the UPND leadership could not restrain their cadres even after having assured the Police Command that they would always abide by the provisions of the Public Order Act,” he said.
He has since called upon all political leaders to ensure that they prevail on the conduct of their cadres even as they notify Police of their intentions to hold political activities.
The Police and some UPND cadres clashed in Choma.
What about the violence in Sinda?
Exactly.
If SP is UPND’s stronghold, why would it riot against itself? They would have rioted when ECL was there. Why didn’t ECL talk about the much worse national risk scenario involving PF that happened in Ndola, at an international airport? Who is fooling who? I smell a rat!
Sinda was worse. And what about Ndola where PF hired more than 10 trucks and buses to “sort out” Miles Sampa? Why did the police not arrest even 1 PF cadre. Bane, dont mock people; and don’t mock God. What happened in Southern was mere excitement – UPND did not attack anyone and all the police needed was crowd management. In Sinda, you had people being badly beaten; seriously injured; and being hunted! Thats where arrests should have been made. Again, dont fool people.
And if SP is UPND’s stronghold, why would it riot against itself? They would have rioted when ECL was there. Why didn’t ECL talk about the much worse national risk scenario involving PF that happened in Ndola, at an international airport? Who is fooling who? I smell a rat!
POA IS NEEDED. ESPECIALLY IN THIS UNTAMED AFRICA WHERE MOST PEOPLE BEHAVE LIKE ANIMALS WITHOUT PROPER REASONING. AGREED MY PRESIDENT !!
PRESIDENT LUNGU DID NOT BRING POA, HE FOUND IT. AND IT HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS. WHY SHOULD HE BE THE ONE TO REMOVE IT? NO WE NEED IT
Ati President Lungu didn’t bring POA so he can’t remove it. What a shallow way of thinking.
@Mervis, do you know if there is POA in new constitution which Edgar found but signed it?
Mervis, I can’t see the difference with your president. All this is happening because of lack of leadership. The President is yapping here but never said anything over the Ndola Airport PF cadre behavior. My foot!
There was not violence in Sinda
Violence reported in Southern Province?????? What a catastrophe of a president!!!!
Chagwa is just a coward of a president, a presidents who quarks in his shoes even before runantics such as hipoppotanious Kabwili,do you expect him to condemn his wild dogs (imimbulu) in Ndola and Sinda? What a country and what a shame!!
No! Mr. President we don’t need it … it is making you look bad. In fact, some people are behaving the way they are all so they can break the law and then police would swing in action. This is one retrogressive and antiquated law you needed to get rid yesterday.
Getting rid of it says you trust the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise, getting rid of it sets you apart from all your predecessors as some one comfortable in your skin. Getting rid of it sends a signal to all would be law breakers that they cannot hide behind it with impunity.
Your advisors are wrong on this one, get rid of it and show your opponents that you are able to run this country with grit and grace. God speed!
Iwe Lungu useless. What about the violence at Ndola airport by PF cadres
Yes, the violence in Sinda where the President was present while it was happening and the violence at Ndola International when PF cadres wanted to beat up Miles? Shame on PF and their selective condemnation. Not that I support violence. Violence is violence and it must be stopped whether its caused by PF or the opposition.
#LunguMustGo
#TimorConsultingMustLeave
Here is the other side of the story in Choma:
“Police in riot gear fired teargas canisters at thousands of Choma residents who had peacefully lined up the streets to welcome UPND president Hakainde Hichilema.
The situation got bad as the people retaliated and started fighting back, our Correspondent in Choma says.
Two Police officers were badly beaten by youths.
A youth snatched a tear gas canister and threw it into a police vehicle prompting the officers to run in all directions for safety. It was at this moment that the youths pounced on the panicking men in uniform and administered instant mob justice.” Source – Zambian Eye
Either way, violence is bad regardless.
BOTSWANA POLICE MANAGES TO BRING ORDER IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT USING POA. HOW DO THEY MANAGE IT? THE PROBLEM WITH LUNGU IS THAT HE HAS NOT LIVED IN OTHER PROGRESSIVE COUNTRIES TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND HOW OTHER COUNTRIES MANAGE THEIR COUNTRIES WITHOUT ANY OF THE POLICE OFFICERS HAVING TO BEAT UP A CITIZEN IN ANY WAY. A PIECE OF LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE PUT TO PREVENT POLICE WORKERS FROM ABUSING CITIZENS. HUMAN LIFE SHOULD BE RESPECTED BY EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY POLICE. COURTS OF LAW ARE THERE TO PUNISH OFFENDERS OF THE LAWS OF THE LAND. POLICE SHOULD STOP BEATING UP PEOPLE. ABASH OVERZEALOUS POLICE ABASH HUMAN ABUSE BY POLICE.
@ Mervis
You are pathetic 1mbecile whose only scope in life is to kiss and suck to the Boss
If SP is UPND’s stronghold, why would it riot against itself? They would have rioted when ECL was there. Why didn’t ECL talk about the much worse national risk scenario involving PF that happened in Ndola, at an international airport? Who is fooling who? I smell a rat!
Ni POA ya nyoko iwe ka Lungu?
When PF was in opposition, Sata was crying about the POA everyday. When he became President, he blamed it on the British. Now Lungu is singing about the virtues of the police brutality. Clearly POA is a tool for oppressing citizens.
#ChagwaMustFall
#PFMustGo
funny how no condemnation has come from HH or upmd of the conduct of the cadres.
The were attacked by the police, why should he condemn them. Be serious!!!
Police instigated the violence in Choma period! Please let no one take Zambians for fools! Why is it that Lungu goes to Livingstone and people line the streets to have a glimpse of him there is no violence? The police were instructed to disperse the people in Choma that had also lined the street to get a glimpse of (welcome) HH and powers that be could not fathom the idea of HH being welcomed by a multitude of Choma residents as if he were a head of state! Police caused the fracas and may thunder strike whoever denies the fact!
@Costa muwansa – Also funny how Lungu and PF never condemned the Sinda and Ndola International violence by PF cadres.
HOW DO YOU CONDEMN VICTIMS? A LOT OF REFORMATIONS ARE STILL NEEDED IN ZAMBIA IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY A BETTER COUNTRY. IT IS OUTDATED AND OUT OF FASHION FOR POLICE TO BEAT UP SUSPECTS. WHY ARE THERE COURTS OF LAW? WHY BEAT SOMEONE BEFORE EVEN APPEARING AT COURT TO BE PROVEN?NINETEENTH CENTURY MENTALITY INDEED. THIS IS TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, CHANGE THE WAY YOU DO THINGS. THAT IS WHY WE WANT CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT ON AUGUST 11. VIVA HH VIVA!
How do you know when he is blacked out from public media
Ndola (SM) International Airport incident-POA is not needed.
AND the Ndola incident is not mentioned by the president!!!!!!.
The man is a complete coward!!
the man is stupid, or dull
He is spending sleepless nights sorting out his exile country following the Agust elections…His brains are getting cloged as we approach the ballot day….please hold onto the strength Chagwa!
Fooooolish UPND cadres. These violent sycophants. No wonder PF moves with Pangas to protect themselves from the ruthless useless southern cadres. Even where thete no PF.cadres they still find someone to blame. in this case the police.
You sound like a wasted sperm iwe Mumkombwe
Treating results not causes. Only the people lacking critical analysis will agree with Lungu. For all I see Lungu speaks good things but does the opposite. But on this one both what he has said the reasons are bad
What’s this lazy Kadansa talking about. His POA didn’t stop PF cadres from perpetuating violence at SMKIA or in Sinda. Like the Bishops have said, its shameful indeed.
lets face it the ndola incident as bad as it was no damage to property or life was done. whereas this upnd riotus behaviour has come with damages to property. that aside i agree with ECL that we need POA. even the mighty great britain has POA. we just need to refine it to make it acceptable to all
…@Manda..
…of the two…the Ndola airport saga and this Choma incident…the airport saga is more serious than the choma one despite having had no damage to property….who knows what could have happened had Sampa and his team disembarked from the plane…??…imagine Ndola airport stripped-of international status…because that’s how serious that breach was…
We need it for dangerous criminals like Hakainde, instigating their flock to stone cars. What an under 5!
The under 5 (HH) and his UPND will do dangerous things towards elections. We need the POA to stop his satanic hatred for people. He’s so desperate he can even hack his own people like cows on a farm. Our democracy is under threat with this small crooked dictator, (HH). Let him lose so that UPND people can elect a better person.notthis evil man who pretends to sing songs in church. church elder Pole pole
@mr kudos, your attack to upnd cadres is too much and it can cause to hang himself
We need POA to effect revenge to PF when they loose elections.
For now we shall defy it with force.
….its not the existence of POA which is a problem its the unbalanced application…..ECL could have scored if he had referred to Ndola airport saga as well….
….the Choma saga depends on who is doing the reporting….one version has it that the residents were peaceful until the police fired tear gas to disperse then…the other version says the resident became over excited…overzealous which transformed into behaving unruly and the police came in to calm down the situation….im sure the earlier version could have been the case….they were trying to emulate their Mazabuka colleagues who recently did the same when ECL visited the area….
Comment:Ba UPND mulifikopo how do you expect your HH to win if there is break down of peace you will even fail to manage you cows imwe bakachema.
TRIBALIST……….. Thats why you guys have to get out before you bring a Rwanda to our country go and catch fish and get blind in the process.
I am not impressed by the simplicity in which Lungu is treating these acts of violence. Strike when the iron is hot. It will soon be out of hand and you will be the first suspect due to professional negligence.
This man is ugly……………………………..
Comment:Ba UPND mulifikopo how do you expect your HH to win if there is break down of peace you will even fail to manage you cows imwe bakachema.Respect the President you tonga are very arrogant people thts why HH will lose God dois not give leadership toarrogant people he gives it to the hamble.
Comment:Ba UPND mulifikopo how do you expect your HH to win if there is break down of peace you will even fail to manage you cows imwe bakachema.Respect the President you tonga are very arrogant people thts why HH will lose God dois not give leadership toarrogant people he gives it to the hamble.Vote fo ECL
The guy is a joke, I am sorry for referring to our president like that but people invade an international airport, the man is quiet but then he becomes very vocal when people are arrested for blocking a road. PF cadres I know you have to be partisan, its normal but sometimes its just to say “okay apa boss i think you are wrong”.
I see that UPND supporters can support anything as long as it is done by UPND cadres. I thought you (UPND) are different from PF but you are just one and the same. So pathetic, how can you be defending such behaviour ? What a shame !!!
Where was your comment on the Ndola airport saga castigating your party?
We tried to restrain ourselves from commenting,but with the calibre of the head of state we have,,there was violence at Ndola airport, where his cadres undermined the security procedures,put the lives of local & international visitors at risk,to our president that is ok.In sinda because he lost the election there when asending to power,his cadres were on rampage injuring innocent people,it is ok with him .No arrests on both sinda & Ndola incidents.People who reteriated after being provoked by pf police in southern province are now being condemned.Is this how the so called humble, christian president behave?on 18th october,2015,you were pretending to be a christrian & you are still pretending by building a church,praying & falsing people,when matters of faith are individual.Is this how a…
As much we dont support violence,they are just human,if one is abused,oppressed continuancly,one day they’ll rebel & unleash the animalst,the abuser has created in them.People in southern province have been mentally,psychologicaly & physically abused sinceMr lungu came into power,who wouldn’t react the same way at any slight provocation.And they see their members being brutally burtered in other places(Northern,CB,LSK,Eastern provinces) & the police do nothing.Even your own dog if you continue abusing it,no matter how much it likes you,it will one day bite you.
@Bridget Namuyobo
Besides nobody has monopoly on violence. If you are pushed in a corner you are left no choice but to hit back. Lungu is a reflection of the people who voted for him. Almost a million voters imagined, thought or believed the drunkard, thief, maybe even a boko haram could lift them out of poverty. Even though he admitted being clueless about everything but nobody could guess that it’s possible for a president to be this pathetic. The punk voters must share the blame for this catastrophe of a head of state.
Please cage these Upnd cadres under POA.
It is realy sad day when 1mbecile like you can call himself PanAfricanist.
1mbecile, do you realise that you are endorsing colonialist legislation which was used to “cage” (as you say) freedom fighters?
For goodness sake Mr Lungu, it is the police who became violent and people had no choice but defend themselves. I am beginning to doubt the mental capacity of this man, he can not even see how he is contradicting himself between the Choma incidence and those where PF thugs have been involved. In fact I encourage more people to join in and defending themselves as police who are supposed protect them are an extension of PF thuggery.
I wonder what sort of advice the man I once respected one bishop Joshua Banda gives President Lungu when he goes to state house to meet him especially with all the happening in the country, just wondering.
POA only applies to non PF members. Even Edgar Lungu knows this. The PF thugs who chased a plane on international grounds at Ndola Airport committed a more serious crime than the People of southern province who were provoked by Lungu’s stupid police.
MR PRESIDENT SIR, A LEADER LEADS BY EXAMPLE. ALL THE VIOLENCE YOUR PARTY HAS COMMITED AGAINST ANYONE OPPOSING YOUR PARTY NOT ONCE HAVE YOU COMMENTED ON IT AND SHOWN US ZAMBIANS THAT YOU ARE THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT NOT ONLY OF THE PF. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT SIR THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. PLEASE STOP LISTENING TO THOSE AROUND YOU WHISPERING IN YOUR EARS THAT ALL IS WELL; SIR THINGS ARE BAD AND THESE VERY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYING YOUR PARTY. THIS IS NOT THE PF WE VOTED INTO POWER, WE HAD DREAMS OF A BETTER ZAMBIA, NOT A LAWLESS ONE PARTY STATE. HEAR THE CRIES OF YOUR CHILDREN.
Kapuba aka. Atase! Useless muntu!
All forms of violence should be condemned. It is grossly unfortunate the Preaident has chosen to leverage the Choma incident without wholistically condemning violence perpetrated by PF cadres in Ndola, Sinda and Lusaka. President Lungu should demonstrate capacity to lead a nation by graduating from a cadre mentality that has engulfed the country. He is a president bestowed with a lot of authority to direct the state of the nation. By choosing to take sides on this matter without focusing on the bigger picture that permanently treats the disease, he is becoming the source of national division. I expect him to lead a nation as president of all people regardless of political affiliation.
You & your cowardly Party a are real Makhoswe, Gundwane’s. The sooner we see the back of the Cowardly Lungu from Chawama compound the better for all Zambian’s.
NOT FIT TO BE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.
You sure sound like one of the Uncivilized Party of Nincompoops and Dunderheads (UPND).
There is so much trouble in Zambia! Niggaz can’t rule themselves . Fck this selective application of laws.
“The Head of State said such incidences should be condemned by all well meaning Zambians”
This man is a lunatic, any well meaning President would have condemned the attack on Miles Sampa at Ndola airport. He chooses to ignore that and goes after the Tongas….as usual…..kupusa bati!
What is patterning to Zambia at the moment is the breakdown of law and order; selective application of the law to suit the interest of the greedy and corrupt. Zambians are now choosing to hit back because the national leadership has grossly lapsed on its duties. Zambia has been a very beautiful and enviable country but greed has taken over. Wherever corruption takes over, justice gets corrupted too. Zambians, let us reclaim our pride by affirming our resolve to wrestle power from the corrupt and bigoted elements. The Lord is watching.
Truth always wins the day. We can wring our hands all we like but a problem must be resolved. We are not there yet in our Democracy. As I said earlier those asking for it to be abolished have hidden agendas…, to make it easy to wrestle power. They feel they can ride rough shod over weak citizens. It’s a cloak of darkness they seek for their acts. Again, I say this is a Testimony, for the church. No sooner had they weighed into the UPND Lead campaign against it, than God’s Righteousness took a side with those that said it should stay. The Advocates against it were outed to all Zambian Witnesses, truth of their evil and wicked ways displayed.
This country is cursed.Listen to this so called Patriot Abroad.Mr Patriot just stay abroad do not even think of coming back to rZambia you will be disappointed things are bad sir and when citizens try to congreget to find a solution they are beaten under the guise of Public Order Act.The only solace my citizens is that a black man is dull.There is a very real likelihood that Edgar will loose the elections and he will turn around when the victors apply the same law on him.
When its the Pf the ***** is always clueless,visionless,brainless and silence.
Ka Lungu very useless. The face is full of beer. Very styopet chap.
But ka lungu aka kapuba icacine, kalandafye pali POA ngabantu bambi, first katuma fikabova ku airport ati baponone Sampa, nolandapo nangufimo. Weshiluwe, this useless person doesn’t deserve to be anywhere closer to the corridors of power, aka ka lungu is a danger to the nation. Lungu is really stupid.
Jameson Agwa Lungu should first ask Corporal Godfoolish Miyandaring about the tendency of POA to come back and bite its defenders hard in the a.ss, where it stinks and never shines, every time they leave power.
uPMD cadres are always in a class of their own, high on cloud 9. Naturall ally would be the supplier of the substance propounded by the Green Party…….kikikikiki
My God! This guy must be a real disgrace to the law profession. What a pity after such a high bar set by the great LPM(MHSRIP)
Did mwanawasa abolish the POA?Sometimes you “let the sleeping dog lay ” as the saying goes…
Confirmed, we have a comedian for President? Such hypocrisy coming from the head of state. He makes Kambwili look like a genius!
Lungu is a mercenary.
This president has a penchant for violence and a strong dislike for our brothers in the South. His party cadres are the ones lighting the fires.
@Mwlae Mulenga ur just a fool and ver shallow in yo thinking…..we need POA be it in the rule of Lungu or in the rule of HH in 2099…..and psychology confirms this fact man is to be guided by laydown principles to form its behavior in a manner that comfirms to society…….kambwili ofcourse is genious compared to yu and thats why hes information minister but becoz ur blinded by negativity whatever he says u dont pick any sense…now if society can onl have people like u blinded by negativity…then POA is needed to contro yo behavior and comform it to the standards of life and thw way of life o the zambian constitution…..WE NEED POA IN PLACE…….
Only an i.d.i.o.t can trust what cikolwa Lungu is saying. Lungu is a biased president no wonder every thing that is taking place points to the fact that he has been rejected by God. The incidences that happened at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Airport in Ndola and Sinda were more volatile than what happened in Choma. And now look at the f00l, instead of commenting against what his PF cadres did in these two areas, he is so quick to blame what happened in Choma, an incident which has just been exaggerated by the police so that they can be praised by their paymaster. Don’ t forget, God is watching and that He cannot be fooled. Edgar Lungu is a disaster to this country and he’ s not even fit to function as president. According to him, it would have been better if Miles Sampa and those Sinda…