The ban, he said, was an infringement of human rights because people had a right to wear whatever they wished at any particular event, adding that no one should decide for the people what to wear without being harassed.
Last week Minister of Justice Given Lubinda announced a ban on wearing of party regalia at court premises to eliminate confrontation and political violence.
Mr. Kakoma said the ban was uncalled for.
But Green Party president Peter Sinkamba said he was in support of Justice’s Ministers decision to ban cadres from all political parties from wearing party regalia at court premises because the materials made cadres behave in an uncivilized manner.
Mr Sinkamba said that there was also need for political leaders to minimize the number of supporters to courts as it was easier to control a small crowd than a large group.
“Even before the elections were held several meetings suggesting that cadres should be banned from wearing their party regalia as it was discovered that the wearing of the regalia was one of the cause of political violence’’, Mr Sinkamba has said.
And Gallant Youth in Zambia executive director Henry Mulenga said the banning of wearing party regalia at the Court premises had come as a measure to curb political hooliganism that wanted to dent the image of the country’s judiciary system.
Mr Mulenga said it was a shame that some political parties wanted to use force in trying to satisfy their personal agenda, saying turning the court ground into a battle field was unacceptable.
He said politicians should instill discipline to their members and use other avenues if they wanted to address their grievances, saying recent unnecessary attack on the judiciary by the UPND should not be tolerated.
Mr Mulenga thanked the Government through the Zambia Police service and the Minister of Justice for their timely interception for it was their duty to ensure that law and order was upheld. Mr Mulenga said the judicial independence should be respected by all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliation, adding that no single political party should have monopoly over national events, saying all the public institutions deserved respect.
“Time and again we have cautioned our political cadres to restrain themselves before violence accelerate to levels of even disrespecting the autonomy of honourable courts of law.
If we cannot wait for the courts to adjudicate on matters of law with a free will, then that indicates failed leadership or that those agitating violence have no alternatives to provide credible checks and balances thereby resorting to physical confrontation,” he said.
Mr Mulenga urged youths not to accept being used as political tools of violence by selfish individuals. Meanwhile, MMD National Secretary Raphael Nakacinda said stopping people from wearing political party regalia was not a solution to ending political violence.
Mr Nakacinda said government should not be scared to sanction unruly cadres who behave in uncivilized manner.
“Government should not be skeptical around the issue the issue because the law is very clear on the sanction against such behaviour,” said Mr Nakacinda.
And People’s Party president Mike Mulongoti was against the ban because it was not a solution as regalia were not a tool for causing violence.
Earlier Minister of Justice Given Lubinda banned the wearing of political regalia at court premises following the fracas that happened a fortnight ago when police were forced to fire tear gas canisters at the unruly UPND cadres who were protesting the adjournment of the election petition by their leaders Hakainde Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Mwamba.
Mr. Lubinda said the ban which applied to all political party cadres would will help de-politicize the dispensation of justice.
Lubinda thinks that because he is minister of Justice he can do as he wishes…no different to that dull empty tin Joyce Nonde!!
Stopping you from swimming in a well where people draw drinking water is not violation of your right to free movement. How dull and cheap are these UPND leaders?
Also Also do these chaps in pf realise that with the poverty under pf people wear political regalia not because they have a choice but because they cannot afford clothes and the last time they got any new clothes was during campaign times. Pathetic indeed
This pillock NEZ is an irritant…!
As a matter of fact, people do not have the right to wear whatever they want in all places. School pupils (who are people) have to wear prescribed uniform, police officers, nurses, etc (who are all people), cannot wear whatever they want on duty. But that’s all besides the point.
The issue is to contain your political cadres who are trying to turn any event into a political circus. I’m not a fun of the PF, never been. I was actually once sympathetic to the UPND cause, when I believed the party stood for something. Yes, your cadres might have the right to be at the courts, but peace-loving Zambians also want the country to move ahead.
So why use the word “Ban” when there is no legal backing for that…why not simply discourage. How can you compare people in uniform like Police and School pupils..do you know the reason why the wear uniform?
As you say yourself, that is besides the point!
Its not what they are wearing that makes them riot
Don’t insult on such fora but the truth of the matter is that the minister has absolutely no powers to ban people of what to wear. He has no powers whether real or imaginary, but you know in the dark continent, when you are given titles like President or Minister, you mislead yourself that you are the Alpha and the Omega. Do you even know that when former President Sata named the three airports, he had absolutely no powers to do that. That authority rests in the local authorities. Africa,dark dark continent. You think Obama can even name an airport, he will be taken to task but here abnormal appears normal
There s no law that allows the minister to ban party attire at any event , not even at the court.
By definition what is a party attire.
Suppose I wear a jacket and write “die hard PF” on side pocket of my jacket and would it be said that i have worn a party regalia or attire.
Sometimes we need good laws rather good men’s whims. Whims are momentary and reactive but good law stand for ever
We also believe that women should be allowed to dress as they please without been victimised by sexually starved pf cadres. Go abroad and see how abasungu dress and yet men there can contain ubwamba. That is why it is important to to taste ndiyo. Some of us have travelled and eaten all sorts of races.
Abasunu generally do not have a shapely body like Africans or South American Hispanics. So clarify your message before posting. I support women choosing their own path, but decency is a welcome trait.
nzelu you clearly have not travelled extensively because now abasungu are giving bafilika a run for their money when it comes to bokosi. Please just travel abroad and see the genetic changes occuring. it must be the genetically modified foods
Ka @NEZ what can your ka little pinkie do to a woman..!?
I agree. Men should control themselves
Comment: Mr. Kakoma must know that courts are there to dispense justice and it will be very unreasonable to allow your cadres glad in red attire as if they are attending a rally being addressed by Hh to surround the court premises. This ban is very much welcome and must be enforced at all cost.
How do you freely distribute free of charge attire to people & ban them from wearing it? Ban free distribution of attire not wearing it from court premises. Is violence due to party regalia only at court grounds? This violence is every where, bars, markets, stations, churches, civic centre, homes, etc. So why single out courts alone as if other places don’t need peace? You think people can reason with you to stop wearing the attire when they have received it free of charge. Even if it loses colour or torn into pieces, they will still wear it.
The problem with cadres is that they behave like animals given an arena. May be this time a PF minister is right.
PF Ministers are so unprocedural and unlawful that they consider their word or what they utter is law. To ban wearing regalia at the Courts the Minister would have to amend the law or come up with a New Law. You don’t announce a ban by merely saying so . U need a law to back such a ban and besides Minister would need to give Notice b4 implementing the ban.
Ever heard of an SI sir?
Bloggers don’t just condemn without getting the sense out it. The minister has not banned wearing of political regalia but at court premises. Meaning you can put on anywhere else but the court premises. You claim to be educated but fail to interpret simple instructions.
I foresee a situation were when the judge in the court does not hail from the “three provinces” riots will break out. so the only peaceful way can be suspend that case indefinitely.
TO THE CONTRARY, I FOR ONE SUPPORT THE MOVE TO BAN THE USE OF PARTY REGALIA AT COURTS, FOR THAT MATTER, NOT ONLY AT COURTS BUT ALL PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS BUS STOPS, STATIONS, MARKETS & PUBLIC GATHERING. THESE PLACES BELONG TO ALL ZAMBIANS & NOT A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ARE MORE ZAMBIAN THAN OTHERS. ANOTHER THING WORTHY CONSIDERING TO BAN IS CARDERS GOING TO AIRPORTS TO WELCOME HEAD OF STATE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT OF THE PRESIDENT RAISING A PARTY SYMBOL WHENEVER HE GOES OR COMES BACK. HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF ALL ZAMBIANS & NOT PF. HOWEVER, HE IS FREE TO DO SO IF WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO IS A PF FUNCTION. LETS PUT A DEMARCATION BETWEEN THE PARTY & GOVERNMENT
“Henry Mulenga said the banning of wearing party regalia at the Court premises had come as a measure to curb political hooliganism that wanted to dent the image of the country’s judiciary system.”
Don’t worry Henry. You are too late with this. Lungu has already “dented” the country’s judiciary system.
Stealing an election and not allowing a petition at the ConCourt has in fact DEMOLISHED any semblance that there is RULE OF LAW in Zambia.
Maybe you ought to try and cure the disease instead of just treating the symptoms.
As they say, a fish ROTS FROM THE HEAD!
@JAY JAY LOW. You sound sensible except they is no one who is more Zambian than the other even if he comes from same place with the President.
The problem with UPND supporters is the emotional way they blog. How can a sane person believe the votes were stolen. It is difficult to believe that you can fail four times and a novice just comes and wins the election yes. But there is something to learn and adjust for next time. The “stolen votes” will not come back by insulting people you hardly know. It is like throwing stones in the dark hoping that the stone will injure your intended person.
Kakoma like Tayali loves to attract attention. Surely even a street kid can tell that the wearing of party regalia just demesne the respect of the court.