UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka says Police have once again denied his Party permits for rallies in Lusaka.
Mr Katuka said the continued denial of permits is a complete violation of their democratic rights of freedom of expression and freedom of association.
“We have once again been denied permits to conduct our campaigns. This is a complete violation of our democratic rights of freedom of expression and freedom of association.
“We had applied for permits in Mandevu and Kabwata for this week, but despite submitting applications the required 7 days in advance these have been denied on the grounds that the police are busy with nomination filing. It is now too late for us to file for new permits and develop a new programme,” said Mr Katuka in a statement.
He added that the action by Police limits their movements, threaten to discredit the election process as it is increasingly looking like their actions are calculated to block and frustrate the movement of his Party members.
“During the official campaign period such attempts to limit our movements threaten to discredit the election process and it increasingly looks like part of a calculated strategy to block and frustrate our movements at every turn.
“We have a democratic right to campaign and the people have a democratic right to hear from the candidates and make their own mind up. But this will not deter us, Police can do whatever they want to do, our voice will be heard no matter what,” he said.
“But this will not deter us, Police can do whatever they want to do, our voice will be heard no matter what,” he said…..” This is what we call courage coupled with determination. Viva UPND, double H, Miles, Dr Kaseba, Guy Cikoti, Mulenga Sata, GBM, Maureen Mwanawasa etc
KUWAWAYAFYE BA DOMBWA, IFINTU LUNGU AND PF.
How does PF come in in a police decision made in best security of the permit applicant? This is why every rational Zambian with self conscience has been advising UPND to seriously consider engaging smart and skilled political machinists for their propaganda work. This business of UPND officials mimicking tradecrafts of party’s low skill blog bought to serve as their mouth piece is hurting UPND. We cannot blame LT for merely placing the press statement as received. We shamee Katuta for his lack of communication skills.
And if you are absolute of winning regardless of what is being done, why this whinning business?
Ba Senior Citizen
Even my 5 years old daughter knows that the Police are controlled by PF.No Rocket Science here,so cut the crap.
For the first time LT has acknowledged pf denying permits to upnd,well done LT for making it crystal clear to all zambians.
It’s a shame that the police, who are supposed to be neutral, seem to be heavily politicized in Zambia. Until we have a complete separation of powers among the the three branches of government, our democratic process will always be seen as a joke. The police are supposed to be non partisan, serving the interests of all the people in the nation, and not just those of a political party that’s in power. The reason given for the denial of permits is inadequate, and clearly points to the fact that the police are just dancing to someone’s tune in PF.
LT, that’s a funny headline: “PFdeny permits to UPND for rallies in Lusaka”
I am sure PF=POLICE!!!
Yes. Police is boma and boma is PF. so PF police
PF or Police??? Very poor reporting..
Ba LT also want to behave like the Zambian watchdog.
The Reporter is a UNPF confirmed Cadre.
The 11 August 2016 elections will not be free and fair for the following reasons:
i. PF Contracted criminals called Timor Consulting to help them rig these elections;
ii. PF, together with Timor and ECZ have contracted another criminal printing company called Al Ghurair to rig the elections;
iii. PF and ECZ have registered criminals from foreign countries to vote in the elections.
To expect PF to address these matters is naivety of the worst order.
ALL opposition parties must immediately do the following:
i. Write to the AU and the UN to raise these concerns;
ii. Seek the intervention of both the AU and UN;
iii. Lead protests which should start now until these matters are resolved; and
iv. Declare Timor, Al Ghurair and their staff as enemies of Zambia.
To go into an election…
@K Bwalya that sounds attainable but tricky right now due to the elections which are just around the corner.It will look as if the opposition are cry babies and rullling party will advise them to quit.
Come on guys stop being disingenuous we all know who controls the police. One has to be naive to think that the police are independent. The puppet master is the pf of course.
Hey Ba UPND cadres tekanyeni. This week is for presidential nominations and police is doing the right thing.
They will be confusion and cadres may crush during the filing.Be serious ba UPND.U’re too emotional.Tulemikolopa again.
is the entire Lusaka police manning nominations?
Just go ahead and hold those rallies, ni ziko yanyoko ba PF? Clash if you want….
Very funny. So some parties will only hold rallies when Police feels like. This is a campaign period. Let the people campaign freely. Why do we anticipate crowd problems all the time? Tell the cops We’ll call you if we need you!
May be LT equates PF to police force. Nice heading though
Every intelligent Zambian knows they are one and the same. It’s a correct headline LT. Let’s not Bury our heads like an ostrich and pretend otherwise.
Dunder heads LT, use your little brains and differentiate between police and PF. PF is just another party, why should UPND go to PF for a permit? That is what LT is implying by the headline. Silly!
YES, THE UPND VOICE IS ALREADY HEARD. THE STRONG WIND OF CHANGE IS SWEEPING ALL ACROSS ZAMBIA. PEOPLE WANT CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE WANT HH AND UPND. ALL RIGGING ATTEMPTS BY LUNGU CHAKOLWA AND HIS PF TEAM OF LOOTERS WILL FAIL BECAUSE UPND IS FORMING THE NEXT GOVERNMENT ON THE 14th OF AUGUST 2016. VIVA HH VIVA!
Continue exposing electoral manipulation , suppression, mutilation and violence against freedom of expression by the PF government. We the people will deliver the verdict on 11 August.
UNETHICAL REPORTING……
@Iwe cikala ci true General! You don’t know that PF controls the illiterate Robot like ZP. Waba fimatole!
Its unfortunate that the Police are once again denying the UPND a permit to hold rallies in Kabwata and Mandevu constituencies. Well and good but its too late the ball has already been set in motion. Voctory is assured. When people want change nothing will change even if it means using brutal methods. The Boers had a mighty defence force system and backing from some Western countries at the end of the day they gave in to the demands of the people for change. So Brother Man Steve K SG stop complaining the PF tactics will not win them an election. The PF will be remembered in the political history of Zambia as the short term part to ever run this country. As for those who have not been adopted for this and that reason, please lets rally behind those who have been adopted by the UPND Central…
@Iwe cikala ci true General! You don’t know that PF controls the illiterate Robot like ZP. Waba fimatole!!!
If ECZ is objective, they should remind the Police about the Electoral Act. UPND should be free to campaign and deliver their message. The Police is not expected to understand the Electoral Act but must not be biased. ECZ does not understand the law at all. What is wrong with rallies?
I work cross to countries Namibia & RSA, I noticed in Namibia there is a court for SADC member states called SADC tribunal, can’t these electoral malpractices & election criminal activities in member countries be tried there? Who has light on this?
And also while in Namibia last year, it was during that country’s general elections, the former President Mr ifikepunye pohamba on live TV, displayed great leadership, when he admonished both his ruling party & opposition to desist from political violence. Saying no life of a fellow Namibian citizen is worth injuring or dying because of winning election. Those who would be caught doing this would face the full force of the law,.he said empathetically, waving the forefinger especially my own party swopo, we win with ideas not by force. Indeed…
Ala bane fintu ni Lungu… Koma Muntu Ni HH chabe……
Upnd did not apply for any permits for Lusaka.. The only permits which have been issued for upnd is for mazabuka, maamba, and livingstone..
We urge upnd to follow the laid down procedure and the process.
what?
@ PanAfricanist…What are you talking about? Comprehension problems? Did you even read the article? What kind of a Pan Africanist are you? The article clearly says UPND applied for permits for rallies in Lusaka in time, according to the procedural requirement. But they were denied, and the police gave a reason, that they’re “busy with nomination filings.” That’s not a good reason enough, as not all the police in the city will be busy. You need to be promoting free and fair elections, instead of attempting to insult our intelligence, given the fact that Africa in general, and Zambia in particular still lags behind in this area, which often leads to myriads of problems.