Transparency International Zambia is dismayed at the manner the Zambia Police Service and the Patriotic Front government have handled the UPND rally which was scheduled for Kanyama Compound on Sunday.
TIZ chapter president Reuben Lifuka says in a statement released to Qfm News that the heavy handed action of the police should be a source of concern for all Zambians who treasure democracy and anticipate fundamental features of democracy such as freedom of expression and association.
Mr. Lifuka has therefore warned the PF government that such action which border on unbridled and unprecedented in tolerance of divergent views is unnecessarily creating divisions in the country.
He says the continued use of brutal force by the police is not a solution to the many political problems currently being faced in the country.
Mr. Lifuka says the PF as a party in power should exercise leadership which requires restraint even in the face of provocation.
He has therefore called for peace on the political platform stating that all political leaders must commit to peace as this is the only way to enhance the country’s democracy.
The TIZ president has also advised the PF government to take criticisms as learning points.
Mr. Lifuka has since called on justice minister Wynter Kabimba and his Home Affairs counterpart Edgar Lungu to act urgently and work towards creating a peaceful environment before the country witness abominable actions.
and The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says the Police action to stop a UPND rally in Lusaka’s Kanyama on Sunday is unfortunate and uncalled for.
SACCORD Executive director Oscar Tembo says Police should respect the constitution rights of the Zambian people.
Mr Tembo says Zambians should be allowed to enjoy the right to freedom of assembly as guaranteed in the Bill of rights.
He says it is unfair for the Police to have treated the United Party for National Development (UPND) in such a manner.
Mr Tembo says police are expected to protect the human rights of citizens and not violate the same rights.
Mr Tembo was speaking to Qfm News.
Donchi kubeba
Condemn Satan at State House and his disciplines like Mwamba , Mmembe, Malila and Sakeni. These are the anti democratic forces that are abusing the law and the law enforcement agencies!
@1. Livingstone, that should read, “his disciples”.
I wouldn’t be surprised with these small NGO’s commenting like this coz they want to be recognized. Its not all about the way the Police are handling themselves but about the way HH and his party are handling themselves, fighting the Police in their own premises. Did these NGO’S comment when people in Western Province tore the Draft constitution, Tonga’s under Oath, UPND searching the Police at their Secretariat, William Banda strangling the Journalist, HH saying the govt training the military youth in Sudan, Cadres beating people at the funeral in Livingstone. All these things and many others are happening but can only talk the Negatives about the Govt. If the Police fail to perform their duties, its not them to suffer about us people. Let us not intimidate the Police please.
One can smell a rat in what you have written. Look on both sides of the coin and priotize, which of these can jeopardize Zambia
we believe you are pro PF. so it will be a waste to comment…
That is the problem with UPND when challenged, Teny has brought up issues that these NGO including Hate Hate himself have remained mute on, instead of answering objectively all you do is label him pro PF.
Now note this fact, it is not a sin/offence to be pro PF, and most of us who are always sounding like pro PF we need the country to develop, we do not want violence we need tolerance and we want to see mature politics and the country develop.
The problem with UPND is that they are simply failing to win the hearts and minds of people for 2016 election of which if they did they can win the election without much ado.
the pfolice have become pf..we need a level headed police system..
@Teny#4 No, hold on right there, did you say that a group resembling UNPD or something next to UNPD is intimdating the police. Hey, reflect on your statement or perhaps rephrase it for me so that we can engage you at lengthy. You deliberately left out a number of concrete facts and substituted them with abstract variables. Put your facts straight and to the point, do not dish out trivial stories to us. Who do you think is attempting to erternalise your story? Mugabe or one of your sympathisers, hey? I have correctly paraphrased your claim, give us a holistic picture which depicts every little detail, okay. Viva HH, peace to all Zambians
In as much as the police were not right to seal off the venue for the rally, the UPND should have also done things within the confines of the law and working hours. They delivered the court order to the AG after working hours and expected him to work on Saturday. They should do it within the right timing next time so that there is no reason to find fault in others.
A massage to mr solomon Jere please dont be so emotional in the way u handle issues coz u never knw the same HH ur mistreeting will be yo boss one day u only have one vote so u cant decide for as zambians 2016 is aproching.lean lesons frm yo fomer boss kabonde were is he now those police men ur sending will remain in employment but you will go becz its u comanding them so watch th space.
Its amazing that a few people can stand up and say that upnd errored by serving the court order to the attorney general on saturday.what mr sakeni and a few people are forgetting is that if we are truly democratic the issue of upnd rally should’nt even have gone to the courts in the first place.upnd notified the police as is required by the law.the police gave upnd a go ahead only to cancel and gave reasons which even a kindergatten pupil can refute. Support dictotorial tendancies today,but when things go to worst you will also suffer the consequences.
To sense danger and avoid it is wise. What you have forgotten is that UPND is and has angered a lot of people, their message has been that of slander, insults, defamation and many more some as witnessed at Zambian Watchdog.
Whereas it is wrong to prevent them from holding a rally it is also right to prevent possible occurrence of violence. Be thankful it never took off,do a fresh application and hold your rally some other day.
@MY ZAMBIA some of us are not UPND supporters but we want to see things done right. Is it only Zambia that didn’t know that there would be a football match when even their opponent knew that they would be in Zambia and would expect security? ZWD is not only for UPND supporters. I voted for Sata, not once but a number of times but I am appalled at the way things are running. I for one think that he surrounded by bad people; if only he could open his eyes and become transparent. I am not even Tonga but I too have noticed the biasness in appointments. It is not wrong for people to bring out such issues. For the sake of the country let us unity stamp out any sort of nepotism, biasness and all the vices. I will keep on criticising PF until they give me what I voted for.Â
Freedom of expression, freedom of association. freedom after expression, freedom after association are hallmarks of a civilised society.
so when two hungers around speak then ‘ then its more conderm police action on up nd down party.
I have always said it, the PF government should take criticisms (especially from the opposition) as learning points rather than reacting negatively all the time. It’s time for the PF government to start serving the people of Zambia because opposition parties, including the UPND party, will continue to ‘sanity check’ the government on behalf of the Zambian people. It’s the job of the opposition, for as long as there is no violence involved.
My thoughts exactly. I also wonder why people think that when you criticise PF then you are UPND; some of us are far from it.Â
I thought the police were there to protect us!!! but it`s the cops who we should be scared of… while we are the ones who pay them. pay tax for what? to be beaten? ignorance again!!
LETS CONDERN SATANIC MANER OF DOING THINGS[PF]
Same as when Napoleon used his dogs to instill fear into the other animals in order to show them the that ” ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT OTHER ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS” !!! George Orwell had a great insight into the mind of budding dictators and how power-drunk they can become !!
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