The Zambia Police has thanked families of the late former National Prosecutor Nsama Chipyoka and United Party for National Development supporter (UPND) Joseph Kaunda for interring their beloved ones in a dignified manner.
Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo regretted the deaths of the two which she alleged happened as a result of public disturbance, when the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema appeared for questioning at Police Headquarters.
Speaking in a statement availed to ZANIS in Lusaka, Ms. Katongo disclosed that the Police are aware of the 32 busses that were used to ferry UPND carders to Police Headquarters in guise of giving solidarity to their party leader and have since instituted investigations with the view to impound them.
She called on Zambians, regardless of their standing in society, to always adhere to the public order act before carrying out public meetings to avoid confrontations from the law enforcers.
“It should be understood that the Public Order Act regulates assemblies, public meetings and processions in this Country and section 5 (4) demands that persons intending to assemble or convene a public meeting, procession or demonstration should give police notice of their intention to do so. This provision does not exempt those that want to give solidarity by gathering in a public place,” Ms. Katongo explained.
She stated that as her institution is mandated to provide security to the general public, people ought to understand that the Police are privileged to have upper hand information, hence should have confidence in their work.
Ms. Katongo noted that illegal public gathers usually embrace criminal minded people with the motive of pushing their own selfish agenda at the expense of discrediting government institutions for keeping law and order.
She urged members of the public to restrain themselves from commenting on issues that they may not fully understand because they may end up sympathizing with perpetrators of heinous crimes.
She informed that, as the country prepares for the 2021 general elections, the Zambia Police will never tolerate any scheme by any political party which has potential to cause anarchy in the country.
“As Zambia Police, our resolve is to protect the people of Zambia from any form of criminality and we shall do just that in fulfilling our Constitutional mandate,” she pointed out.
Ms. Katongo warned those who wish to engage themselves in lawless activities during the election period the law will apply to them.
Thanking not apologize you police is this a report you are have given Mr President
Is shooting some body dead by Police part of enforcing the law. This cant be, you cant break the law in the name of enforcing the law. The equation is not balancing
Enforce the law by bringing the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book first, then tell us that that act was unacceptable, the automatically we will believe that the police are doing their job and we will abide by the law.
Now don’t enforce it wrongly
We expect nothing less from you ba ZP. We know that you are working in very difficult circumstances as we approach elections. We ask you to fully investigate these unfortunate deaths and bring to book all those who led to this disturbance. Clear appeals were made prior to this day advising all political players to refrain from having cadres escort them due to the heightened political tension. So can you please bring to book especially the leaders who had responsibilities to ensure that no cadres followed them. We are tired of opposition misbehaving and always blaming others for their f00lishness. Can you deal with them
Kaizar, please we are in a democratic dispensation. Police don’t have any powers to give directions, what gives directions is the constitution. And in this case the constitution does not stop any cadre or citizen giving solidarity to his leader as long as they are peaceful just the way the late was peaceful on that day.
What I don’t understand is why the police were given orders to kill unarmed innocent citizens. We say the police were ordered to kill people because it does not make sense that officers can use live ammunition without an intent to kill. Anyone who draws a gun, points it at someone and pulls the trigger has a clear intention to kill. That action becomes meditated murder.
Uyu malepe alibbe
Very irritating
please do it in accordance wit the law… killing of individuals is not keeping law and order… it is murder … it is goes against the law itself…
Selective not equity law
You failed to stop the gassings of our people , looks like you are only good at stoping UPND gatherings , and trailing HH,
Everything else , you fail miserably.
What the h€ll is she talking about? Is she even listening to herself? She doesn’t make sense at all… this statement is misplaced.
Is she saying the victims of police brutality were criminals who did heinous crimes? I thought the criminals in this case are her fellow police officers.
Even if there were criminals, does this mean shooting aimlessly into the public is the best solution to sort out those suspected criminals?
What Constitutional mandate is she even talking about? To kill innocent people?
And this so called POA and notifying the cops… the notification is for the cops to protect those gathered and not to kill them. Neither is it for seeking permission as the police seem to think.
And finally the police appear to treat those who support the PF but they appear to be…
Ms. Katongo don’t insult our intelligence. There was no fracas except the shooting down of innocent unarmed citizens.
HH is the leader of the argest opposition party in Zambia and don’t expect his supporters to applaud you 1diots when are busily stiffening people’s freedom.
YOU EXCUTED THOSE 2 VITIMS PERIOD. YOU MURDERED THEM IN COLD BLOOD.
The best you can do is to shut your stinky smelly mouth for now.
“Protect Zambians from any form of criminality”….
I suppose if you are not PF you are not a Zambian. Choosing to gather with other Zambians in the open for a common cause or going for a lunch-beak makes you a criminal? And impounding busses is a solution? You know not that which you speak of.
Madam, the police are not a security detail for the Easy Money Class who take K2 million to buy groceries. Be fair.
What a lie! We all know that Zambia Police is ready to protect only Lungu
Law must be enforcement to curb lawlessness.
Explain more please. enforce is equal to kill or how?…am behind. If not why do zambian cops kill now and then. If yes, is that one they killed Nsama and Kaunda a few to mention.
No one should put this issue under the carpet. A killer should face the law as a mudrer.
Yes madam and we are in support of you enforcing the law but just learn as fast as you can that enforcement of the law does not entail abrogating the law by Police shooting people dead, you want to enforce the law whilst failing to uphold the law yourselves, how ironic
Mickey Mouse police force full of cadres and dull PF m0rons, most of them dull like the ka useless stup1d lungu… chi colour
At law the offence of Killing Joseph Kaunda lies squarely with the Police and it is not transferable to HH under any circumstances. And also lets be truthful that HH did not mobilise any cadre, some UPND structures could have hired buses, and that can be blamed on HH. If its a Christian nation, lets be truth full. The killing offence cannot and will never be transferred to HH under any law in Zambia.
Why are the police so infuriating in Zambia? Why do they find crime where there is no crime, but when people are robed and raped in their homes at night, they are nowhere to be seen. When it comes to a single opposition political leader appearing anywhere in public, there they are in full force. Zambia police is a disgrace and this command of Kanganja is the worst in the history of this noble service. There was a police force under a one party dictatorship but it was very professional. If blood thirsty Lungu, trigger happy Kanganja and Kapeso were then in charge, they would have decimated the country.
You have been doing a good job except those with evil plans want to make you look like a bad institution in the name of politics.
I am left with no doubt that Ms Katongo and her Police superiors think we are total retards. So two people were gunned down in cold blood because you wanted to enforce the Public order act on a peaceful crowd? No update on who shot the two or why the police behaved in such a senseless manner leading to the shooting? This is what passes for a police statement in this midst of this tragedy?? What an absolute shame!! Granted you are under pressure from politicians, yet you still could do a lot, lot better. Shame on you.
Selective action speaks louder than words.
This silly woman is the reason why ZP can not attract professional UNZA graduates from school of Mass Communication…she is just happy to lie everyday and stuff her face to obesity. No shame at all and no one saying anything about usage of live ammo to control crowds.
Please just show us the report …we know that la7y coward in State House will be scarce today.
Most Police Officers themselves are daily complaining against their command. Even this shooting to death of innocent people in Lusaka by Police, the majority of Police men are not in support of it and others have been talking openly against it in these public places we meet them. I think your image can improve a great deal as Zambia Police if there is a public apology. If you want to show muscle and talk tough, you are just weakening your image more
Then arrest the killers of Joseph and Nsama
Hiring of 32 buses to ferry cadres cant be an offence and even if it were a thousand buses, there is no constitutional breach here, and even IF UPND complied with the Public order act to ask for ‘permission’ you were still going to deny them, and UPND has structures, it does not mean if buses are hired it is a direct directive from HH, We know you hate and fear HH with passion but you cant continue blaming him on anything including climate change in the past , you killed an innocent life and you should own up and stop pointing fingers at innocent people.
Killing a grade 8 young life of Frank Mugala is enforcing the law? Killing Vespers Shimuzhila with tear gas is enforcing the law? Killing Graziar is enforcing the law? Killing Mapenzi Chibulo is enforcing the law ? Killing Lwarence Banda is enforcing the law? Going to radio stations and disrupting paid for political radio programs is enforcing the law? Tear gassing spectators at independence stadium including visiting teams for the under 20 Africa cup is enforcing the law? What type of Policing is this? What type of un professionalism is this?
Keep doing your work… Punishment any law breaker whatever their status
Its unfortunate that the law enforcers are so selective in their executions of duty. How many innocent Zambians have been left in cold blood by police and non of the law enforcers brought to book?? Anyway how hope is just in the Almighty God seeing all the injustices taking place in our beloved nation, God will not remain silent for he says “LET JUSTICE PREVAIL”
If Lucifer was a woman.
What is public disturbance according to zambian constitution please quote. When congregants are singing in the church building are those near the church vicinity not disturbed by the singing? When marketeers are selling their merchandise and they normally shout on top of their voices to get attention from potential customers is that what you call public which can compel the police service to use live ammunition on innocent people ? If you’re an enlightened police officer worth the position of police spokesperson which you’re currently holding quote from the constitution as you’re qualifying this statement you’ve made.
Thanks for what,they sue the state
Zambia Police is ready to kill more innocent citizens
Zambia is Country which is in dire-need of a second independence, this time from a crop of its own people, the independence attained in 1964 has been rendered insignificant and futile going by the happenings in the Country. The national anthem crafted to unite a people as one and for peace to be enshrined in the culture and upheld seems farfetched. It is unbelievable that the command would be scouting for excuses and reasons for such gruesome killings, yet statements were made prior on brutal force that would be applied. The whole operation appeared to have been well rehearsed clear to see from entry of the crack squad white van and sealing of the road by the cathedral as soon as the van made entry for the operations. There is also a video clip of police threatening to shoot UPND lawyers…
Wise counsel from Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo. I can assure you Madam that most of Zambians are supporting ZP for the work they are doing. They have proven that they are truly professional and they are protecting our lives from people with wicked intentions. Only those with criminal minds speak ill of ZP. Please do thorough investigations because most of us do not believe that those two precious lives were killed by ZP. Only simple minds are quick to conclude. In a mixed multitude it’s not easy to spot the sniper.
Unfortunately, Akainde’s brainwashed cadres cannot see murder perpetrated by their killing machine that has been gunning innocent victims for political expediency. bwafya sana.
Where is the report Zambia Police was ordered to produce by president Lungu by Monday 28 December 2020.
It’s very sad to see how our police “force” not service has sunk so low.
It’s such a shame.
I remember that slim beautiful professional Police Spokeswoman we had years ago …she would never reduce herself to this useless thing who can not even run after a tortoise
Statement like the above make this ignorant police spokesperson Katongo an accomplice to crimes against humanity and will be used in upcoming investigations against her. She doesn’t understand Zambia’s constitution but is there giving falsehoods at every occasion. Investigations into these murders will take place no matter how long it takes and this ignorant woman will regret taking a position in the police which is above her, may be through corruption or tribalism, or nepotism or whatever the appointing authority so in her which does not match the stature due to her job. The major problem is giving professional positions to unqualified PF carders.
Tarino Orange actually most of Zambia s criminals are tortoises its only that our police force is worse. It is so corruptly incompetent it can’t catch them. Imagine taking Dr Chilufya to court and the prosecution u turns? That only happens in Zambia
Oh please Officer Katongo don’t be naïve for Zambians are in this era smarter than you think! The Zambia police are still a relic of the colonial era police as actions experienced depict it all! The brute force mentality of the then times is something the police service has resisted to shed off for the modern times intelligent approach! I do not know whether to cry or laugh at justification being advanced for the Public Order Act, and by the way did the officer sit for a chat with Tayali over the same to compare talking points? So it’s like NOW, as Kampyongo to has alluded to no more killings, that police will begin administering the law? What have police been doing other than stifling opposition parties from exercising their rights and freedoms?
What happened to the Mutaware case? What has happened in Zambia ever since Edgar Chagwa Lungu became President has lent credence to his originality and his actions have cast doubts whether this man ever graduated let alone seen the inside of a classroom. The birther movement in the US concerning Obama had not much to support it, but we have our own identity crisis here in Zambia. The next government should investigate this. This behaviour is not Zambian. Even Kanganja may have just swam across the Zambezi and claimed Mwinilunga as home.
Katongo, you are a woman, capable of carrying a baby for 9 months, suppose one of many upnd cadres killed under your police force was your child, would you say what you are saying now?is solidarity only limited to pf, remember Chilufya case which Magistrate failed to execute because of pf cadres from luapula, did your police impound buses that ferried them? No because it was pf, how about the president’s brother in-law, Lusambo who holds meetings without permits in covid 19 period, did your police question him? No because he is pf or indeed pf president’s brother in-law and many other examples. God is watching you, one day you will answer for your sins
Those officers in America who killed an unarmed black man where arrested and prosecuted.Here in Zambia the buggers are Scot free.And we say we are living in democracy.Why use live ammunition on unarmed people are no rubber bullets.The pf has lost it’s popularity.That’s what happens when someone with no vision is given to lead he’ll take you anywhere including a ditch.Look at the number of corruption cases involving his ministers the current state of the economy.2021 lets vote wisely mwebantu
Which law? Yamu Jungle? The Mushala Law?