The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Brian Mundubile, has strongly criticized the New Dawn Administration for its alleged violation of human rights, specifically citing the ongoing arrests and mistreatment of Members of Parliament (MPs) by state police. In response to these concerns, opposition MPs staged a walkout from Parliament today, aiming to convey a message to Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu that they will not tolerate harassment and mistreatment from the police.
Mundubile emphasized the need for the Inspector General of Police to ensure that law enforcement officers are trained in how to treat Members of Parliament. He expressed frustration that while MPs are respected internationally, they are subjected to treatment akin to that of criminals within their own country. The walkout, according to Mundubile, was a symbolic action aimed at drawing attention to these issues.
“We have observed a concerning trend whereby MPs are being abducted and arrested without any prior notification or callouts,” Mundubile stated. “Recently, Honorable Robert Kalimi and Honorable Christopher Shakafuswa were arrested without being given any form of notice. We do not argue that MPs are immune from arrests; they are still subject to the law. However, the manner in which arrests are carried out should be conducted in an orderly fashion, considering the respect and stature of an MP. What harm is there in giving an MP a callout?”
Mundubile went further to allege that the police receive direct instructions from State House on how to harass opposition MPs. He claimed that President Hakainde Hichilema intended to instill fear in MPs due to attempts to sway them to join the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Expressing their discontent with the police’s conduct, the affected MPs, including Honorable Robert Kalimi (Malole MP), Honorable Munir Zulu (Lumezi MP), and Christopher Shakafuswa (Mandevu MP), spoke out against their mistreatment. Honorable Kalimi stated that the separation of powers in the country was under threat, as evidenced by the arrests of MPs without the knowledge of the Speaker. Honorable Shakafuswa pledged to continue speaking out against injustice and defending the nation’s democracy, while also challenging the alleged abuse of power by the police under the New Dawn Government.
Adding to the chorus of criticism, Honorable Zulu questioned why opposition members, particularly those from certain regions, were consistently targeted by the same police squad.
The walkout by PF MPs serves as a stark reminder of the deepening political divide in the country and raises concerns about the alleged infringement on the rights of elected officials. The New Dawn Administration and the police authorities have yet to respond to these allegations, leaving the public eagerly awaiting their official statements and a potential resolution to the ongoing issue.
What state police? Those are upnd cadres dressed in police uniform. I urge our MPs to beat them up if they attack you. Just give them some punches and dirty slaps to the head.
Your MP Munir Zulu AKA kopola rich man can’t beat a sick rat like you so how can he fight?
You cannot last 2 minutes in bed with a woman and yet here you are claiming that my young brother cannot fight. Try us.
Let them leave our honoured building, after all they are just contaminating our honoured building with their dirty practices of stealing and corruption. Thieves always support their fellow thieves NJ
Why should a honest and wise person protest whenever a thief, a command, a corrupt individual is arrested? Only PF are able to do that because stealing and all other related activities are normal to them and are part of their visions and individual quick empowerment
toWhy should a honest and wise person protest whenever a thief, a conman a corrupt individual is arrested? Only PF are able to do that because stealing and All the other related activities are normal to them and are part of their visions and individual quick empowerment
HH is a dictator. That is why there has never been an election in UPND. He has been telling people that PF are corrupt but to now no one has been convicted by the courts of corruption. Now they have stollen Faith Musonda’s money these Hungry Hyenas. How are you going to convict Faith Musonda and her financiers when evidence has been stollen. The police these do not do anything until kainde says so.
Surely, can the Police just go and target an opposition MP if he has not done anything wrong. I agree that arrests must be done in a much more proffessional manner but I also dont agree with opposition members who go and offer solidarity at Police stations issuing statements that they are being targeted. Police cannot just wake up and go for you, how
They can. Because they are being used by the ruling party. It has always happened. Why are you pretending to have only hatched from your egg last night? Police are always used and we all know about this.
I agree Police are not mad.
Professional thieves always rise against the police and corrupt politicians give solidarity to to thieves because thieves and corrupt politicians are all the same
Ba PF – LACK OF DIRECTION and FOCUSSED ON WRONG THINGS !
Ku wire-wire fye
Look at that boy zulu looking like a soaked chicken…………
We are waiting to see his evidence of corruption against musokotwane and milupi which he gave ultimatums…….??
The other ones don’t want any one to see how they are spending citizens CDF funds…….
Useless ensemble of jokers are theives……
That is why my brother farked your woman. You think I don’t know who you are? Don’t catch feelings. We are all men here. Blame her for opening.
Gay Zulu……..
They are suspected criminals.
They are not above the law, they are still under the impression they can do illegal activities and get away with it
They should act as responsible adults rather than ill discipline delinquents.
It is important to be Leaders. Under your rule, your cadres where beating Policy at any point and you have NEVER apologized.
If HH is a Dictator now, it is PF that has willingly made him so if he is because PF loves Dictators.
Those are upnd cadres in police fatigues. If they attack you, I urge our MPs to beat them up. Simply give them a few punches and grimy slaps to the head.
If you do not go back to parliament soonest, you will find Bill 1o passed
Ben, you are right. All PF members are suspect because they deliberately did not take President Sata to hospital because they allowed a Clinical Officer to enter State House after being fired by President Sata, illegally.
Even on their bad day, Police can not just wake up and come and point at you that you have done something wrong if you have not committed any wrong. So don’t cry wolf here
@Muzangabanthu, police wait for instructions before they do anything. This is why they are investigating after they have made an arrest. We will have five years of nolles and a lot of tax payers money wasted on fighting PF. This catch and release needs to come to an end and concentrate on lowering the cost of living.
There was a time when I held Mr. Mundubile in very high esteem, not anymore. It seems he thinks being opposition leader is to be a rubble rouser all the time. When an accomplished lawyer like him decides to bring himself down by associating with a childish and unstable fellow like Munir, then you start to wonder whether his marbles are there in full too. When MPs deliberately issue inflammatory statements and act in a way that attracts law enforcers, Mr Mundubile wants the police to just look the other way. In fact, we had more unreasonable police under Kampyongo than now.Otherwise, ba PF please look for another leader, not this one. He’s a big disappointment
No matter who leads PF………..
They have to associate themselves with unsavoury characters and outright liers and theives………..
That is the nature of the PF…………
@Uwakwisano,
Well said. That is the result of the prolonged agony of NOT having a leader for 2 years ! So these so-called PF Presidential candidates are using every opportunity to be visible. CRAZY
Ba PF = LACK OF DIRECTION and FOCUSSED ON WRONG THINGS!
PF is reduced to a noise maker, unfortunately, they can’t defeat Mmembe at that game.
I now realize why PF MPs are out of Parliament , it is because they tooooooooo assumed that K57M will soon be in all constituencies in Zambia as the protest.
PF under Given Lubinda are noe speaking from the dump site where Zambians consigned them in 2021.They are just noise makers.PF must be disbanded
Why disband the PF when it’s destined to die a natural death?
Gunner,deregisrtration is a much faster and humane way to end their agony.At least they get to go home with a complaint against the UPND in the strongest terms possible
You will die before pf is deregisterd you cow