Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has dispelled social media reports that the Zambia Police attempted to shoot at opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr. Kanganja denied the reports that police fired live ammunition at the opposition UPND leader while he was on the Copperbelt on Saturday and described the rumours as cheap propaganda aimed at hoodwinking people and drawing sympathy from the general public for political mileage.
According to a press statement issued by Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo to the media in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Kanganja has since appealed to political parties to be truthful as the general public expects to hear nothing but the truth from them.
“At no point did the police fire live ammunition to disperse crowds during the time when the UPND leader was conducting the illegal activities as all the officers were only armed with tear smoke canisters,” Mr. Kanganja explained.
The Inspector General said he is disappointed with political parties especially the opposition UPND for failing to observe the provisions of the public order Act and opting to dare the police.
He said the UPND failed to notify the police of its activities on the Copperbelt province as required by law but instead took the law into their hands and held public rallies in Mushili compound in Ndola.
He explained that police only learnt that Mr. Hichilema, who was on the Copperbelt, was scheduled to attend a church service on Saturday but the activity later turned into a mass crowd after busloads of cadres invaded the area and the party had held a roadshow, forcing their way into markets to hold rallies.
Mr. Kanganja further said police received reports of the general public being beaten for being in other regalia of political parties than the UPND with some being wounded with screw drivers and iron bars while others were hacked with machetes.
He said police did not move into the area which is a compound for security reasons and patiently kept vigil and allowed the UPND to conclude their illegal activities after 18:00 hours.
Mr. Kanganja said the police sealed off routes leading into Ndola town and forced the UPND to use alternative routes.
The Inspector General also said as the UPND leader proceeded to Kitwe in a convoy of over 100 motor vehicles, police were prompted to stop the fleet for security reasons but the cadres budged through the security checkpoint and hit police officers with stones fired from catapults.
He said this prompted the police to discharge tear gas canisters to disperse the unruly cadres.
He disclosed that today on Sunday, Mr. Hichilema attempted to go to a local Catholic church in Chingola district and the police only allowed 10 motor vehicles to follow but several vehicles joined, turning the processing into an unlawful one.
Mr. Kanganja explained that at this point, police discharged tear gas to disperse the convoy and crowds adding that at no point did the officers use live ammunition.
He denied allegations that the police are preventing opposition parties from campaigning and pointed out that the UPND campaigned in Ndola from 13 hours to 19 hours.
Mr. Kanganja said police will intensify snap checks on all motor vehicles following reports that political cadres are moving with offensive weapons in motor vehicles such as stones and catapults.
He reiterated his warning to political parties taking part in the August 12 general elections and said police will not allow them to orchestrate and perpetuate lawlessness and illegalities aimed at disturbing public order.
Mr. Kanganja said all that the Zambia Police wants is for all political parties to conduct their campaigns and activities within the confines of the law.
The Inspector General of Police has since encouraged the police to continue being firm and ensure that law and order is maintained as the country goes to the polls.
Kanganja has always been a PF fan masquerading as Zambia’s non partisan IGP his word cannot be trusted.
LT dismiss police shooting at HH.
Police thinking of stopping HH from going to campaign or going to church will not work, but add fire to the situation. Police and political party leaders should come together to find ways of resolving this issue. Police cannot pretend that the vice president and the cadres she travel with are campaigning. That in itself is wrong before God and man. Double standard will not work out. The more police become biased the more the situation will become bad for everybody.
HH is a Hypocrite, this is how greedy selfish people behave irresponsible, as long as he gets what he wants, what is why he even grabbed land from a poor family in kalomo.
There was a very good reason why KK did not tinker with the service chiefs. These guys need to be neutral at all times. The tinkering of service chiefs will come back to haunt this PF government. You don’t mess with the instruments of power. Politicising our service chiefs will only lead to a military takeover when you start bending their ears towards partisan agendas.
There is a problem here. Who is running these Elections in Zambia? Is it ZPS or ECZ? How come ZPS is prescribing to Political Parties how they should Campaign during the 90 day Campaign Period? Has ECZ and ZPS banned the 90 day Campaign Period? If Rallies and Road Shows have been banned as Campaign Methods what are the remaining acceptable Campaign Methods for Political Parties? The 90 day Campaign Period was meant to allow Political Parties to Campaign freely without seeking Police Permits. Has ECZ and ZPS banned the Campaign Period? Opposition Parties are not allowed to flight their Campaign adverts and messages on ZNBC and State Media. ECZ should compell these State Institutions to accept Opposition Parties Campaign adverts and messages if Zambia is to have a free,fair and Credible…
Is ZPS running these Elections? Where is ECZ as Manager of these Elections? If Rallies and Road Shows have been banned as Campaign Methods which Campaign Methods are acceptable to ECZ and ZPS? Has the 90 day Campaign Period to freely campaign been banned as well? ECZ and ZPS are banning free,fair and credible Elections in Zambia. International Election Monitors and Observers are watching. The recipe for a violent, rigged and disputed 2021 Elections are visible. Cry the beloved Zambia.
What were the police doing there in the first place? IG not credible, whatever he says nobody believes him. Better he keeps quiet.
THIS CHAP IS A LIAR WITH EVERYTHING CONCERNING THE POLICE
WHY WERE THE POLICE THERE ANYWAY !!
PF HAS TO GO
ZAMBIA FOR ONCE DESERVES A CREDIBLE GOVERNMENT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF MISMANAGEMENT AND LOOTING
HH did not put Zambia first when it came to privatization of the countries assets instead he put himself first, HH did not help the deceased children instead he cleverly and legally took their land, Convid-19 is on upswing. HH, putting on two clinical masks, has no problem exposing his supporters. Icikwaka abecimwena kumapalanya. HH is likely if not will legally milk Zambia than taking Zambia to higher levels. The reason he has failed to come up with a salable vision is because he is there for himself. He is busy courting violence while ECL and others are praying for peaceful elections. HH give considerations to Convid-19.
HH did not put Zambia first when it came to privatization of the country assets instead he put himself first, HH did not help the deceased children instead he cleverly and legally took their land, Convid-19 is on upswing. HH, putting on two clinical masks, has no problem exposing his supporters. Icikwaka abecimwena kumapalanya. HH is likely if not will legally milk Zambia than taking Zambia to higher levels. The reason he has failed to come up with a salable vision is because he is there for himself. He is busy courting violence while ECL and others are praying for peaceful elections. HH give considerations to Convid-19.
Ba LT show us the pictures of HH campaigning if that is true he was campaigning.
Was this person commenting even near the scene, unnecessary commotion with opposition, crime fulu fulu in compounds, that is where the work should be, wasting time chasing opposition leaders, time to account always comes
“…Mr. Kanganja further said police received reports of the general public being beaten for being in other regalia of political parties than the UPND with some being wounded with screw drivers and iron bars while others were hacked with machetes. ”
Unashamed lies from this PF cader……
You think if UPND used machets and iron bars on PF , the police would just watch ??
People would have been murdred by police by now with HH locked up…….
I told you guys yesterday that HH has started his nonsensical theatrical tricks..am not PF but I can assure you that that HH is capable to setting the whole country on fire with his reckless and under 5 tricks….this is how civil wars starts…..and people should condemn HH for his reckless behavior of trying to incite violence…if you look at the pictures you can tell its was Police doing their Job….and car door was probably damaged by one of his cadres….UPND is a very dangerous party and they should never be voted into power…..and not PF either
HH should be held responsible and charged for his lie. He has just realized that the Sangwa petitions were just a smokescreen and now he’s trying to make up stories…Poor finishing will cost HH elections and he has sensed defeat….now expect alot of his under 5 cry baby tricks
The police did not fire at HH. Riiiight. Just like they did not fire at Nsama Nsama. Mr Kanganja has appealed to political parties to be truthful……. Like the PF has been truthful about the gassing incidents.
GARLIC SHUUT UP ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED 25 YEARS AGO
WHY WASNT ANYTHING DONE THEN ??
YOU ARE JUST A FRUSTRATED PUPPET KNOWING YOUR DIMISE IS NEAR
REMEMBER SATA GOT THE STATION ???
Lusaka Times please don’t be part of the problem and stop publishing nonsense…am non partisan….but please check your articles and don’t be like western media which likes to incite violence by reporting on fake news and exaggerating…full of propaganda
People should check on Youtube the BBC Hard Talk interview that Steven Sukur had with HH. In that interview, Sukur dismissed HH’s perpetual cry of being an assassination target by the PF government. Sukur told him, if the PF government meant to kill him, they could have easily done that. I always wish HH was UPND leader when FTJ Chiluba was in power, because he would not have continued running his motor mouth the way he continues to that PF government wants to kill him. He would probably not have said this even once. He would have been history by now. HH and his UPND minions continue to tempt fate but one day they will surely meet it and it will be too late for anyone to cry foul.
This is why hh loses elections and why he will lose again. The motherfaka has an inflated ego whereby he believes he is so important. He thinks he is someone who people want killed. I can’t even waste my bullets on a f00I like him. According to him zp have been trying to kill him for decades. Remember these are people trained to not miss, and yet magically hh always survives. He took the same allegation to BBC hardtalk where he was not believed and told that if Pf wanted him dead he wouldn’t be alive. He looked very f00Iish
ECZ has not yet listed the so called other methods of campaign..Why is it that ZNBC it’s only one man being shown doing this and that. ZNBC should be covering all other Presidential aspirants so that it’s known that they are not Biased.Healthguide lines also need to be listed clearly.Advise an exceptable number of people that’s is required at Political gathering at the moment? ECZ cant just say they have banned rallies without mentioning the dos and donts. C.K was in Serenje campaigning touching down with a helicopter no Police shoting incident was witnessed there. Is our Police not being biased why follow only opposition leaders? ECZ should call a meeting for all stake holders in this Election and chat the wayfoward with them before 12thAug.
“Attempted assassination”…HH is a joker…..so where did they shoot him??? in his chest or his head???….HH is a clown of a Politician and after August 12th he should just retire
FutureZed- KK did not need to tinker it was a one party system with its one Special branch.
So the guns shown on the photos are not real? I bet the IG got yet another phonecall last night from State House and/or OP…… Well, one MORE corrupt government person who needs to be replaced on August 13!
We keep saying it’s assassination attempt but they keep denying so who killed Naama
Naama?Was it a stone or tear gas? Even if
We say HH is a liar but some facts are there.
Apparently HH was shot 7 times in his head and 7 times in his chest with an AK 47 and he lived to issue a press statement….worst opposition leader and no wonder his alliance has crumbled….HH is not even worth assassination…Voters will assassinate his Political career on August 12th….come talk to me August 17th or 18th
This man HH can divide the country.he was told not to campaign in southern coz its 100% for him.Please you people from the north wake up with man who has no agenda for Zambia.he lies too much
After realizing he is not as popular in the CB as he’s lying to his supporters, he cooks up the assassination story. The oval headed twit!! This guy is pathetic, a total clown and loser. He’s cooking up these stories and psyching his supporters that he’s winning so that he can cause mayhem when he loses on August 12 ati “bandi bhela futi”. I think the people and GRZ will be ready for him this time.
@Tarino Orange, so why didn’t special branch keep him in power when he lost to Chiluba? That one party system is what kept Zambia together. People should learn from history and not just look at it from their own selfish point of view.
He has never been honest in his life,do you think it’s difficult for government to kill HH without anyone suspecting…. people open eyes all wants is plot one regardless the method he uses.all he wants is to provoke the police so that at end he play victim , mind you covid is real no joke like HH.let him explain how he is going change this country , how is going to create jobs through radio and TV mind you he has to pay for that … let him tell us if he has gone there to buy TV time and they have refused. Supporters of HH your leader is not a hamble person some of you just supports blindly or on the tribe line , take time ask question all his complaints , remember we only have one country Zambia.. peace love and joy should be our goal..
This fellow should prepare himself for retirement in the next couple of months. Incredibly incompetent! Zambian people have all the evidence of wrongdoing on their phones and I feel sorry for the people who thought they were untouchable. The time of reckoning is coming where people will be answerable to the laws of the land. UMULANDU TAUBOLA. Zambians are not stupid.
Lungu has tried everything on HH including cold blooded murder……..
Lungu has tried gassing Zambians, land fraud cases , arms import cases , treason cases ………
You name it , lungu has tried to nail HH.
The only sorrow for us is many innocent Zambians have lost their lives because of lungu in trying to stop HH…….
The President was right, this is the lowest we have seen from Zambia Police since 1964, and they are not improving at all, very confrontational towards opposition and especially UPND, ne pa shi lingi le. Police all over the world are polite and only if the situation is really necessary should minimal force be used
Can Kaganja explain why the police were armed to the teeth? It is this militaristic approach which is worrying. For sure guns were heard and UPND has every right to suspect evil intentions from such a militarized police force. PF please do things in a civilized manner, Zambia has always been a peaceful nation. Let the police do normal police duties than combat assignments.
It is sad that we had hoped that the opposition would do something different this time round. But as the Bemas say “ uwakalema takaleka” loosely translated “Bad habits die hard” HH does the same thing in all the past elections he has lost and expects different results. Votes never come from sympathy, the last time this principle worked was during the liberation struggle. Since then you must show or tell the voters what you are going to do once in power that is what brings votes. Hakainde is doing exactly the opposite, his little campaigns are being diluted by the hooliganism that has rocked his tribal political party. What HH does not understand is that he is actually de-campaigning himself because the people being harassed by his hooligans are potential voters.
Pictures taken at the scene showing police brandishing AK 47’s are there for all to see.
Does the police use AK47’s to fire teargas canisters?
Don’t be silly Mr Kanganja.
Every President that has ruled this country accept for KK has tried to assassinate HH. HH will be assassinated on August 17 by the same people that do not vote for him
All this is bordering on character assassination. The personality of government is raped by this politician so he can get publicity.
KK HAS SKELETONS IN THE CUPBOARD BELIEVE IT
“Mr. Kanganja said all that the Zambia Police wants is for all political parties to conduct their campaigns and activities within the confines of the law.”-LT
International community stay away from this election, because you will not allow this in your countries.
Police state; “a totalitarian state controlled by a political police force that secretly supervises the citizens’ activities.”
HH TOO MUCH CRY BABY. ALL THE TIME WOLF WOLF. LET HIM JUST ALLOW US THE PF TO CONTINUE AND RETIRE TO ZANZIBAR OR WHEREVER. ONE PARTY STATE IS WHAT ZAMBIA NEEDS. NOT THESE CRY BABIES WE SEE.
A lot of questions needs to be answered.
When you have escaped an attempted assassination by guns, it is usually that bullets were fired directly at your motorcade or your house etc. Or a bomb planted in your car, the house or a venue. From the pictures that UPND have published on the internet, all one can see is dented car body and a damaged door handler. Neither damages are from a bullet.
Can UPND show Zambia or the world pictures of bullets that landed on the car that was carrying HH? This is the first time I have heard of an opposition leader going to church accompanied 17 vehicles carrying youths and cadres. Even the excuse they are using is so cheap and irrational.
FIRST ASK WHY SHOTS WERE FIRED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND AROUND THE CHURCH
OBVIOUSLY ANYONE WOULD FEEL THREATENED !!!!!!!!!!
#43 INDEPENDENT OBSERVER
June 7, 2021 At 1:31 pm
“…….Can UPND show Zambia or the world pictures of bullets that landed on the car that was carrying HH? This is the first time I have heard of an……..”
Who told you that bullets have to find their mark in an assassination attempt ???????
KAIZER ZULU # 21 . Bro, keep hammering these diet Coca-Cola Losers
UPND you lot are cry babies and a waste of space. Like it or not, you know this is another loss for HH. Zambia has no time for attention seekers. This time HH goes into retirement. Your King comes up with this excuse every time he has nothing to say. If he was popular why does he always keep begging to form political alliances. Its because HH is a Political Prostitute or Gigolo. I am back and I will take you on every single day until Election Day 2021
HH WILL GOVERN THIS COUNTRY MAKE NO MISTAKE
THE TIME IS NOW
PUPPETS CUT YOUR STRINGS AND BREAK FREE
LUNGU AND PF HAVE LOST
LETS HOPE CONCOURT RULES IN LUNGU’S FAVOUR THIS PM
SO WE CAN PROVE THROUGH THE POLLS PF IS NOT WANTED ANYMORE
AND GOOD RIDDANCE TOO
#46 xFactor
June 7, 2021 At 2:03 pm
“…….I am back and I will take you on every single day until Election Day 2021..”
Badala, PF needs help on FB, not on LT.
go to the PF page and help out there , the PF are being shat on and abandoned by Zambians……
akapS #48
Hahahaha Bring it own. In your dreams. You know this very well deep down in your heart. HH is not winning. I hope you are not among these UK based UPND Members who are waiting and dreaming to get jobs under UPND Government. Your Fake Messiah is always bragging that he is more popular but keeps begging to form political alliances. If he was that good why always beg for other parties to help him get to State House. Sata was clever, brave and showed HH how its done to win an election. That’s why he coined the name and called HH, Ba UNDER 5. I don’t need to go and help out PF. You are the one that needs to help HH. I hope you don’t have a heart attack in August 2021
tikki #47
Stop being delusional because come August 2021, it will hurt so bad. And you know that. I have never seen such kind of blind loyalty from a bunch of people who cannot see reality. Someone gave me your recently UPND Manifesto. It was shocking to see the poor grammar and misspellings. Of course not forgetting the plagiarism. What does it say about a bunch of people who say they are ready to govern Zambia. You chaps are jokers and sick in your heads. HH has taken you for a ride and f**ls
akapS / 48
To answer your question. I don’t need anyone to tell me. I just have common sense and an analytical mind. A question such as yours normally comes from people who fail discourse or find the substance to have a debate. It’s frankly a cheap shot. So, I will leave you to swim in your own anguish.
If you come to Lusaka Times to attack others rather than bringing a meaningful debate, the loss is your. Because you gain nothing but go home frustrated.
Enjoy the rest of the day !!
Who believes what Kanganja says? Nobody can believe what a Murderer says. Who shot and killed Nsama Nsama and Joseph Kaunda in cold blood? ZPS did. Who shot and killed Chibulo? ZPS did so why would anybody not believe
that ZPS shot at HH’s Convoy? Of course they did. How can ZPS prescribe to Political Parties what Campaign Methods they should or shouldn’t use? ZPS is commanded by ECL who happens to be Candidate in this Election so can ZPS impartially run these Elections? Can the ECL controlled ECZ run free,fair and credible Elections? Well they are failing to independently run these Elections. ECL is a Referee and a Player at the same time in these Elections. As some Seers predicted 2021 Elections are going to be violent, rigged and disputed. The writing is on the wall.
In August, after Jameson Kachipembe Lungu has lost the elections, Kanganja will be shot in the head and we will dismiss the shot as self inflicted.
HH is the most principled Politician I have ever encountered. We all smelt a BIG rat in the 2016 elections and there was only 100,530 votes difference in the count that was highly suspicious. Being an opposition leader in Zambia is not easy, and you can be rest assured that the current president can not last a week as opposition leader, but Has demonstrated his ability despite the persecution. His message is crystal clear. Remember Sata (MHSRIP) lost elections a few times before he won and HH has developed a following that Zambia has never seen before.. Nobody can ignore that.. PF should be ashamed of themselves for bringing the country to the knees. insurmountable Debt, corruption, economic myopia, incompetence, brutality, violent caderism, the list goes on… Lastly, the HH Government…
Kaganja is behaving like cadres. He and his boss cannot be trusted.
These PF cadres need to go to FB, your ECL has even stopped posting live videos because he is getting roasted there. The musicians singing for Lungu are being abandoned in numbers. Zambians are fed up with PF, now you have the whole chairman of EAZ telling carders to lie about cooking oil prices that it is temporal. Now PF cadres are tearing opposition posters and stopping your main opponent from campaigning which all points to desperation.