MINISTER of Justice Given Lubinda is happy that no innocent citizen has been arrested following the invocation of Article 31 on July 5.
Mr Lubinda said the invocation was merely meant to give more powers to the police to arrest suspects.
He said the invocation of Article 31 is not targeted at innocent citizens but insurgents and arsonists.
Mr Lubinda said this in the company of Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo, National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfrida Sumaili when the trio paid a courtesy call on acting Livingstone district commissioner James Zimba on Monday.
“We are particularly delighted to hear that citizens are conducting their businesses normally, and no innocent citizen has been arrested during this 90-day period. This period of 90 days is not meant to cartel people’s freedom,” he said.
Mr Lubinda also disclosed that a team of ministers has formed a ministerial partnership and is conducting a tour of the country, starting with Southern Province, to assess the status of correctional facilities and how inmates are faring.
“After the tours, we will have a symposium so that even when our minister of Home Affairs goes to Parliament to present our findings, Zambians should know. The media is free to join us as we tour these facilities. We want the nation to know what is happening,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Zimba informed the ministers that the proclamation of Article 31 sent the tourism community into panic, but that the situation is now calm.
“The tourism industry is doing well without any challenge. People thought the invocation of Article 31 would affect businesses but everything is okay. People are going about their normal activities,” he said.
A number of citizens have been arrested in Livingstone and held longer than the period the Threatened Emergency allows, they’ve not been produced in court.Suspects were alleged behind the arson. Is this not violation of citizen rights. Families are suffering for imsgininary offences.I’m very disappointed with lies from Lubinda
Since you know who is innocent and who is not before due process of the courts please give us a list of the guilty ones.
All pipo at the time kf arrest are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. In effect the minister is stating that thise pipo thatvthe police have arrested with their increased powers have already been judged by the police and are guilty. Minister your speech writer should have been more careful in his preparation and you as a minister she have been able to amend it prior to publishing a self damaging statement.
“Mr Lubinda also disclosed that a team of ministers has formed a ministerial partnership and is conducting a tour of the country, starting with Southern Province, to assess the status of correctional facilities and how inmates are faring.”
I thought that was a job of an MP.