The Ministry of Justice has acknowledged that the Public Order Act in its current form is inadequate and requires to be amended to ensure that power is given to citizens to exercise their rights as enshrined in the republican constitution.
Speaking during a stakeholder’s engagement meeting on Public Order Management and Legal Framework agenda in Lusaka today, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice Mwenya Bwalya says without free public discussion on social, economic and political issues as well as public education and enlightenment which are essential to proper functioning and execution of government, it is impossible to foster the strengthening of the rule of law.
Ms Bwalya said in an effort to uphold the rule of law, protect human rights and to ensure that public order is managed, the public order act will be reviewed.
She has since assured the new dawn administration’s commitment to give independence to the police in the enforcement of the act and to put in place mechanisms that will allow for the reform in the manner in which regulation of public assemblies and processions are managed.
And Governance, Elections Advocacy and Research Services -GEARS- Initiative, the organizers of the workshop through its Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi hopes government will not remain silent on repealing this act as it needs serious attention.
Meanwhile, Civil Society Organizations Access to Information Coalition says it does not expect any further delay from government to enact the access to information bill into law.
The Coalition says government should do everything possible not to divert from its pledge of enacting the ATI law especially that it is among the reasons that Zambians entrusted them with power.
Coalition Chairperson Reverent Father Alex Muyebe says it expects the ATI law to be enacted into law by June this year failure to which it will mobilize and galvanize the masses to join in demanding government to deliver on its election promise campaign to enact the ATI law as a key tool in fighting corruption.
Fr. Muyebe told a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that the coalition will also sustain a robust advocacy to see the legislation of the ATI law in Zambia as it is demanded by the Zambian people in an event that the bill is not enacted into law.
And MISA Zambia National Director Austin Kayanda says civil society organizations in the coalition are hopeful that the bill will be enacted now that it is on the calls list at parliament.
All sitting governments have survived and flourished on the colonial and segregating POA. The sooner this thorn in the flesh is managed the better for strengthening the democracy.
I hope the zeal they have on bigamy will be exerted on POA.
Should our father chikwanda die then his blood will be on HHs hands. Remember that chikwanda comes from a royal family. When you kill royalty you will die shortly after wards.
Y’all niggaz. Leave the POA alone in it’s current state.
You ain’t got the guts to handle the spiral effects from the resultant changes you propose. Osasusha iwe isiyeni POA.
@ Kaiser Zulu, just surrender yourself to the police for false imprisonment and kidnapping charges. We warned you dehumanising Zambians and assault and battery of innocent citizens will lead you into jail. This is the beginning of all PF thieves with more charges to follow. Remember attempted murder on Enock Kavindele’s son?. Judgement will be entered in your absence if you do not report yourself. Interpol has been informed. Chickens have come home to roost
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice Mwenya Bwalya,……….
I dont think you know how a desperate , stressed cornered wild animal acts ………
That is PF at this moment in time………..
The freedoms of expression, gathering and travel afforded to all Zambians is not enough for them………..
They are just waiting for GRZ to remove the last barriers preventing them from leading their followers into riots or an armed reserection…………
If someone’s actions are in character, they are doing what you would expect them to do, knowing what kind of person they are. If their actions are out of character, they are not doing what you would expect them to do.
Camouflaged uniforms make people be out of character And that implicates things. Is that what we want to treat each other inhumane? Public Order Act new Amendments should include changing of uniforms. One Zambia, one nation.
“If someone’s actions are in character, they are doing what you would expect them to do, knowing what kind of person they are. If their actions are out of character, they are not doing what you would expect them to do”.
Camouflaged uniforms make people be out of character And that implicates things. Is that what we want to treat each other inhumane? Public Order Act new Amendments should include changing of uniforms. One Zambia, one nation.
Instead of telling us what we already know, abolish the damn POA without playing to the gallery.
What I haven’t heard is the proposal by the proponents of the repeal of the Act on how they want the Police to keep public order. It’ll be interesting to hear that
Let’s hold on to POA. With Russia and Ukraine war, we don’t want violence to spill over to our peaceful nation. One Zambia one nation!!! Hahaha