PF Pamodzi Alliance Accuses Police of Enforcing Unpassed Law to Suppress Opposition

PF Pamodzi Alliance Accuses Police of Enforcing Unpassed Law to Suppress Opposition

The Patriotic Front Pamodzi Alliance has condemned the Zambia Police Service in Southern Province after its Commanding Officer, Moono Namalongo, was recorded invoking Section 9 of what he referred to as the Public Gatherings Act of 2026 to suspend political gatherings in Mazabuka until further notice, citing concerns over public safety. “For now, gatherings of such nature are suspended until further notice,” Namalongo stated. “Police is allowed by the law to suspend such gatherings in situations where public peace is in danger.”

The PF Pamodzi Alliance emphasizes the importance of upholding democratic freedoms and urges authorities to respect the rights of citizens to assemble peacefully.

The statement has drawn immediate and fierce condemnation from the opposition alliance, which described the move as a shocking illegality given that no such Act exists in law. The Public Gatherings Bill, from which Section 9 appears to have been drawn, has not been enacted and was itself returned to Parliament for reconsideration by President Hakainde Hichilema on May 29, 2026, on the grounds that it contained inconsistencies with established judicial precedents and constitutional protections. The alliance warned that it would formally report Namalongo to the Anti-Corruption Commission by Wednesday if no corrective action was taken.

Below is the full statement issued by the PF Pamodzi Alliance on Tuesday, June 10, 2026:

POLICE ABUSE OF UNPASSED LAW EXPOSES GOVERNMENT DESPERATION AHEAD OF 2026 ELECTIONS

For Immediate Release 10th June, 2026

The recent decision by the Zambia Police Service in Southern Province to cite provisions from the proposed Public Gatherings Bill, particularly Section 9, as justification for suspending political campaigns in Mazabuka is a shocking illegality of the highest order.

It is both unconstitutional and deeply alarming that the Police have elected to enforce provisions from a Bill that has not been enacted into law and which President Hakainde Hichilema himself returned to Parliament for reconsideration. Such conduct is reckless, unlawful, and exposes the dangerous extent to which sections of the Police Service have become politicized.

The blatant abuse of authority by overzealous police officers has now become rampant and intolerable. Law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold the Constitution and existing laws of Zambia, not to impose unpassed legislation in order to suppress democratic freedoms and intimidate political opponents.

This abuse is clearly being driven by President Hakainde Hichilema’s growing desperation to silence dissent and intimidate opposition political players because he has evidently lost public confidence and knows that his popularity has significantly diminished ahead of the 13th August 2026 General Elections.

The misuse of the Police Service for political purposes is a direct reflection of a government that is fearful of the people and increasingly intolerant of democratic competition. Zambians are fully aware of the shifting political landscape and the growing public consensus that the next President of Zambia will be Brian Mundubile together with his running mate Makebi Zulu.

This abuse of authority cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. Action must immediately be taken against those responsible, failing which we shall commence all lawful processes necessary to ensure that such abuse is never repeated in our democratic dispensation.

We therefore wish to make it clear that by tomorrow, we shall formally report the Southern Province Police Commanding Officer, Mr. Moono Namalongo, to the Anti-Corruption Commission for abuse of authority of office should the Commission fail to act on its own motion to curb this blatant illegality.

President Hakainde Hichilema must immediately act against these overzealous officers or decisively dismiss the Inspector General of Police for failure to restrain and discipline erring officers abusing state authority for political purposes.

If this conduct is allowed to continue, it will only confirm public fears that these officers are operating under illegal and partisan instructions from their Commander-in-Chief. Such actions amount to a clear abuse of the Constitution and a direct assault on Zambia’s democratic space, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.

Zambians deserve a professional, impartial, and constitutional Police Service, not a politically compromised institution weaponized against citizens and opposition voices.

Issued By:

Celestin Mambula Mukandila, Esq.
Acting Secretary General PF Pamodzi Alliance