Government has revealed that the Public Order Act (POA) bill will be submitted to cabinet for approve in the first quarter of this year, before it is tabled in parliament.
Minister of Justice Given Lubinda has indicated that none of the submissions received so far, call for repealing of the act, but however suggest that the act be amended.
Mr Lubinda explained that after the bill is approved by cabinet office, it will be published before being presented in the next sitting of parliament for further stakeholder consultations.
Speaking when he received a Zambia Police Service report on POA in Lusaka today, Mr Lubinda added that after the inputs from parliament and the public, the ministry will hold a validation symposium, were only organisations and individuals that have made submissions will be allowed to attend.
And Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo observed that over the years, POA has been a subject of public debate, court actions and amendments.
Mr Kampyongo added that people have argued that the act in its current form goes against the spirit of democracy, which is based on respect for the fundamental human rights and freedoms.
He noted that to this effect, government has requested stakeholders and interest groups to make submissions on the review of the POA to the Ministry of Justice.
He said the Ministry of Justice is expected to compile all the submissions from various stakeholders in order to form the basis for the review of the POA.
Mr. Kampyongo pointed that the Zambia Police service being a major stakeholder in the maintenance of law and order in the country has developed a comprehensive mission on the administration of POA.
He further added that the submissions will provide valuable data and recommendations that will form the basis for the review of the POA.
The Minister has also implored the police command to retrain police officers in the administration of the Act, so that all officers are conversant with the provisions.
IN the usa laws or amendments are done the other way to what lubinda or zambian system.Any law to be passed it has to first be tabled in house of congress and then the senate has to make amendments and some times send it back to the house and again comes to the senate before it goes for final presidential signature.This is why US laws stand the test of time.Taking it to cabinet first before parliament defeats the whole purpose of a law of the wishes of the citizens as cabinet will remove clauses which they are not comfortable with.Does the zambian president know how to use executive orders?
Let’s roll …
Non sense how long has this story been going on????? You would be a numb skull to believe there would be progress on this matter before 2021
You are sending wrong way, for approval to cabinet, then go command it on UPND?
It’s a bill send it to parliament first before Ba Edgar sign it in Heroes Stadium.
You dont need to be a prophet to foresee the end result,a complete waste of time.PF have neither the competence nor morals to do what is right,in future the same PF will be complaining about this Law,that is if there will be PF when they are out of power,with no mpoto for the rats to feed on…
Public Order Act allows society to function smoothly without lose of individual liberty. It is a good thing. But I am afraid the PF may use POA as a scapegoat. It seems PF is completely in charge of the process.
The problem with public order act in Zambia is that it is used to fix political opposition and enemies rather than serving Zambia’s interests.
Opposition refused to debate it but will surely cry foul of being on the Backfoot when it’s enacted and it’s too late to call for changes.
When was POA amendment Bill debated in parliament?
Why are you always spreading fake news?
Because you are dumb arse !mbecile or because your f*cking brain do not understand deference between “Act” and “Bill”?
You mean PF government doesn’t know what’s wrong with the POA? They surely know. Let them just sit and remove all the stuff they complained about when MMD used it against them, kwasila. Lubinda himself knows very well all the ills
Lubinda is this the only song you know in that office? You have been singing the same chorus but delivers no message.
The Zambian POA Act is the best tool in preventing anarchy in Zambia. It should be amended cautiously as not to loose its power to control tribal lead political nusancies as those that occur at election time. Far from going, ‘against the spirit of democracy, which is based on respect for the fundamental human rights and freedoms (Kampyongo);’ the POA in its current form is adequate in providing useful power surges to police as required at first instances of anarchy.
The biggest protesters to the act are from political parties that are usually the biggest source of disorder in our society, in their desperate attempts to create protests that go beyond the meaning of democracy. LEAVE WELL ALONE!
Akande and his followers are too undisciplined to have a diluted POA. Leave this process until after the general elections when Akainde’s political life will be buried for good and more serious characters take over the shonongo party