POLICE have reprimanded MMD Lusaka Province chairperson, William Banda and eight other cadres who were last week warned and cautioned for unlawful assembly.
Lusaka Province police chief, Charity Katanga said Mr Banda and other MMD cadres had been given the benefit of doubt and reprimanded for their action.
Ms Katanga said in an interview that Mr Banda had assured the police that he would abide by the law next time he intends to hold a meeting.
On Wednesday last week, police warned and cautioned Mr Banda and eight other MMD cadres for unlawful assembly.
The cadres and their lawyer were summoned to Lusaka Central Police Station on Wednesday this week where they were given the last warning.
“This was the first step and we warned them that any political gathering in a public place should be made known to the police in accordance with the Public Order Act,” she said.
According to the Public Order Act, a public place is not only an open space but included buildings where people gathered such as restaurants.
Mr Banda and the cadres were rounded up and bundled into four Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles.
More than 10 other cadres scampered when police raided a restaurant in Woodlands area where the meeting was taking place between 11.00 and 13.00 hours.
Ms Katanga said police should be notified when political players wanted to hold public meetings so that they could provide security.
[Times of Zambia]
Just send him back where he comes from please.
Don Chichi did it what is the problem kanshi?
I’m holding a meeting with my kids this evening…do I have to tell the police?? folish and backward!!
What does folish mean?
#3 What’s your point?? You Zambians act less human…look how you are treating ya own people!
U cant be surprised next time to hear that william banda is president of zambia, this is how it starts, police summons make someone look a hero especially political ones
why waste so much time on WB…..just deport the bagger…!!!!
Truth be told, it is a nolle prosequi, only it was not in chambers but at a delapidated police station desk. With the chief constable furiously scratching his head why these lawyers at the DPP’s office can’t come up with “a valid charge”.
This is not (…or at least should not be) about William Banda. Putting Banda’s own thuggery aside which was reprehensible, anti-democratic, and indefensible, the more important issue here is government’s intent to limit freedom of assembly. When in opposition did PF have to declare all of its meetings, let alone every dinner or lunch engagement when two or more party members got together?Â
Simply put, no matter what we think of William Banda (swine, thug, etc), using his name to erode political freedom is bad for democracy …..and is therefore bad for growth and development since it means fewer opportunities to hold our elected leaders accountable for their actions.
Far better for GRZ would be to defend Zambia’s democracy than to limit it. What is PF afraid of?
PF has targeted easterners for harassment, its a pity the level of tribalism that is going on. Us easterners should be careful, these guys hate us.
The Human Rights Commission did ask these cops to specify the ACT under which they stopped William and co from having a meeting. The police failed to explain. And the next thing we heard were PF psychophants making uneducated justifications. Now it is ‘warn and caution’…..about what exactly? Bakapokola (or is ba PF kanyangu) there is no law under which you can charge William the next time he and his 19 friends meet to have a laugh at the PF 90 days joke!
The police were wrong in the first place as they wanted to please our Dictator President. Sata!
Am not a supporter of William Banda but the Zambian Police were supposed even to apologise to banda for harassing him over his human rights to free assembly and movement in Zambia.
Long live the great Nation of Zambia and its freedom and peace!
Abash draconian laws of these morons at the Zambia Police service who are just acting like robots!
Ladies and gentlemen, the William Banda saga has set the precedent. Next is LIATO cleared; Mwale cleared; Konga cleared. This will happen for one simple reason: the Police, ACC, AND DEC are not acting professionally in pursuing cases involving former leaders.
Pardon the expression but Ms Katanga this is nonsense, which law empowers you or any police officer to pardon people for imaginary offences ?
Kwena cine fye Lucy Sichone (rest her soul) is dead. I can only imagine what she would have done on this one
Ammatures!
No don’t just reprimand him charge him so that Zambians can see which law you use to do so. tell us which law he said he will follow if he said anything to that effect.
You harras someone fail to apologise and ‘reprimand them’, are you sure this is not a police state?