LAZ President Gorge Chisanga said the the association does not support calls to have the POA repealed but that it should be reviewed so as to deal with its operational challenges.
Mr Chisanga said reviewing the Act will help the police in their administration of the law in the spirit and accordance of the Republican Constitution.
He LAZ concern at the way the police has been administering the the law say the impartial administration of the law by the Zambia police is a great source of concern.
“LAZ to express wishes its deep concern with the offices of Zambia Police Service who continue to fail to discharge their statutory function and act impartially in maintaining law and order. The events of recent past clearly brings into sharp focus the difficulties created by the Zambia Police in the administration of the Public Order Act,” he said.
And Mr Chisanga has called on Republican President Edgar Lungu and UPND President Hakainde Hichilema to publicly denounce political violence.
“Laz calls on the Republican President to denounce political violence and give express directives to the police to implement their statutory mandate of protecting all the citizens of this country regardless of their political persuasion. LAZ also calls on UPND President Hakainde Hichilema expressly denounce pronouncements made by the party’s cadres declaring the an eye for eye approach responding to PF cadres who seem to base their action on the erroneous premise that the POA does not protect them,” Mr Chisanga said.
He noted the continued raise in cases of political violence is sign that there is a serious breakdown of law and order in the country which he said is a danger to the holding of free and fair elections.
“Rather dishearteningly the advise and all the calls by laz and other stakeholders have not been heeded to by the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order consequently political violence has been on the raise and at an alarming rate.
“Recent examples include the threatened attacks by PF cadres on Post news papers editor in chief Fred M’Membe in full view of LAZ members at Harry Mwanga kumbula international airport, the attacks on UPND cadres in Sinda Constituency, LAZ observes that these incidences and several other incidences which may not have not been documented are symptomatic of a very serious breakdown of law and order and are a threat to only to the holding of a free and fair election as expected in 2016 in August but also to the very existence as a sovereign state,” he said.
First good thing that the Law Association of Zambia has ever spoken.
but Laz If I Say What U Said Would U Say Am Wrong ? Syiakalima Simply Said What Lungu Said Now U Condem Siakalima And H H It Is Not Rite It Is Like Ur Child Telling U What Mum Said Then To U . U Blame The Child H H Has Condemd Vaiolence Many Times May Be U Dont Read Too