Southern Province Permanent Secretary (PS), Mwangala Liomba is disappointed with the apathy exhibited by people in the province towards the ongoing review of the Public Order Act in the provincial Capital.
Speaking at the meeting in Choma, Mr Liomba expressed sadness at the residents’ failure to appreciate the opportunity government has provided for people to submit their views.
He noted that peace is the interest of all Zambians and wondered why some people cannot appreciate an opportunity to amend the Act which they criticize.
ZANIS reports that the PS has however, commended those that have turned out to make submissions adding that they will be quoted on behalf of the province.
“This opportunity will not last forever. The time to speak out is now. Those who have shunned the meeting should keep quiet after this” Mr Liomba said.
Despite having been publicized through various media, there has been a low turnout of people making submissions on the review of the Public Order Act in Choma.
And a check by ZANIS found less than 10 people making submissions per sitting, at Choma’s Leon’s Conference Hall.
Among political stakeholders, only the National Democratic Congress Party has so far submitted.A working group constituted to collect submissions on the review of the Public Order Act is currently in the province to receive submissions.
You buy $400 million planes and ask poor to come make submissions for what?
Culture of upnd. This province is very interesting.Most People in this are controlled by their tribe they don’t think beyond their tribe. Talk to wamuyayaya they will listen to him. You’ll be surprised by the turn out.
But Ba Edgar signed a new constitution in the stadium, why is it useless all of a sudden?
If they want submissions then post the thing here.
Copy all comments and submit to your PF-President to sign another constitution in the Stadium.
Please keep the Public Order Act as it is.
1.1 is right.
Me I thought it was just Tr.ibal Hacks, so it’s the whole province? But I don’t think so, I think that they just fear to be lynched by tr.ibal Hacks cadres when he unleashes them in the night. You know what has happened there before. Ask Hon Michael Kaingu, they torched his Kozo lodge to ashes.
Remember what happened in Mongu (Presidential Motorcade? Animo Farm will not be contained if you remove instruments which help curb animo behavior.
What were you expecting? This apathy could be attributed to some of the following reasons; Some people know that there are laws and regulations in place except PF through its enforcing institutions does not abide by them. Secondly, why should one spend his hard earned cash to travel to the provincial capital to contribute to some that is already predetermined or cannot be effected and under the current economic hardships, people are more concern with putting food on the table than wasting their precious time on playing democracy.
I am not clear!! I thought POA is fine and what is lacking is failure to follow it by the police?
The current state of the public order act leaves a lot of room from those in power to abuse it in their favor. It appears the police have absolute power to deny or authorize those political parties wanting to meet granted authority. This means the inspector general of police who is appointed by the president can be directed by his bosses to act other wise.
My suggestion would be that all political parties should avail their scheduled public meetings they want to undertake during the year submitted to the police as planned early in year lets say January of each year. They should also show all itineraries to be undertaken during the year. These should give specific dates and times including places they want to hold rallies. Approval should be done by a competent committee which should…
be called the public order committee to meet and approve such party activities. Just as an example the committee should have prominent people appointed to sit on it among these the inspector general of police or other senior police officers. It should also include representation from civil society, selected members of parliament from both sides lets say two each and may be other security wings. Once this committee approves such a program for a particular party for that year then the inspector general of police has to abide by it. Parties that misbehave should be sanctioned by this security and public order committee which should be legally instituted. Meetings outside these approved party activities should require seven days notice. Those approved by the committee just three days. How…
Some people dont know the difference between the Public order Act and the Constitution – Shame…..
Southerners are always behind any schedule.During , 2016 general elections they were behind just to understand the vitality of NATIONAL BILL OF RIGHTS. They associated it with rigging of HH ‘s votes .So even this one, they think that PF want rig HH’s votes in southern province.
Anyway, there is a Zambian adage that states that a Bemba is on top of everything.
If the current govt is so interested in the so called peace why entirely scrap the Public Order Act, then draft another different law altogether.
People know even if they make submissions nothing will happen, what they know is PF will not always be in power, so when that day comes they will be rammed like there is no tomorrow, and the cycle will continue.
Why should govt waste money, when they could scrap it off?
Even UK has PoA with section 6 giving the police powers to order you to not to do certain things.
People have no confidence that this act will actually be amended to their will hence the apathy. They think it’s a waste of time to give submissions because government will only change what it wants and not what the people want.
They did the same with the Bill of Rights referendum.
Apathy means people have lost trust in governance.POA is subject of dialogue that is why people in Southern province ignored this!! Let us stop blame people here….let Dialogue take place then all these will be things of the past
Ndange I agree with you that UK has POA ,but it is applied without favor !CK and his party have been applying for meeting indoors and outdoors non of the two have ever been given, that why citizens are not interested in any amendments
Opposition political parties are denied in door meetings for their executives’ but how do you expect them to do their internal elections when the PF is doing it national wide without permits.
Opposition political parties are denied in door meetings for their executives’ but how do you expect them to do their internal elections while the PF is doing it national wide without permits.