The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it regrets the statement made by Deputy Inspector of Police Solomon Jere who yesterday banned public rallies during the campaigns in the Livingstone constitutively by-elections.
In an press statement made available to ZANIS in Livingstone today, ECZ Public Relations Manager, Chris Akufuna reiterated that political campaigns, including rallies for both Mpongwe and Livingstone constituencies will end tomorrow, Tuesday, 26th February
at 06:00hours as stated in the earlier statements issued by the commissions on 10th February, 2013.
“The ECZ has noted with regret the statement made by Dr Jere banning public rallies during campaigns in Livingstone by-election and I wish to reiterate that political campaigns including rallies will end tomorrow the 26th of February at exactly 06:00 hours,” said Mr Akufuna.
Mr Akufuna stated that the commissions was not aware of any ban of party campaigns as stated by Dr Jere who yesterday announced the ban of all political campaigns in Livingstone.
“The commissions is not aware of any ban of political campaigns as announced by Dr Jere and I want to state that it is the mandate of the commission to set up election time table, including a campaign time table which should be adhered to by all political parties and stakeholders without exception ,” said Mr Akufuna.
“The commission therefore regrets the confusion that has risen from the statement made by Dr Jere” he added.
He explained that the current position of the commission is that the official campaign period ends tomorrow at 06:00 hours.
Yesterday Dr Jere announced the close of campaign activities in both Mpongwe and Livingstone by-elections set for February 28th, 2013, citing violence as a reason for the ban of political rallies.
Meanwhile, Former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti says banning of political parties from holding public rallies is not a solution to avoiding violent clashes during by election campaigns.
Mr Mulongoti said this will infringe on the rights to access information on the part of citizens and a hindrance to freedom of expression on the part of political parties.
Mr Mulongoti told ZANIS Ndola in a telephone interview today that abolishing political rallies on whatever occasions will only make it difficult for political parties to get their manifestos and sell themselves to members of the public.
He urged the Zambia Police Service not to enforce such a law but first liaise with political party leaders and stakeholders in order to find a lasting solution to violence during campaigns.
Mr Mulongoti added that banning political parties from holding public rallies will be uncalled for because not all political parties in the country are involved in the violent cases been recorded.
He further appealed to the police to check on the two parties that clashed in Livingstone in order to establish a better way of handling this case other than banning all political parties’ country wide from holding rallies.
And UPND Trustee in Charge for Presidential Affairs Cornwell Sakala said Zambia is a democratic country which should allow its political parties to express themselves freely.
Mr Sakala said public rallies by political parties is the only mode that they use to communicate with people and if the police decide to completely ban them from campaigning publicly then the freedom of speech and information will be suppressed.
He said this act is unacceptable because if people are suppressed then democracy is also suppressed.
Mr Sakala further said that banning political rallies will not in any way help to alleviate violent cases recorded but will add more confusion.
The Zambia Police Service has banned political parties from holding public rallies as a measure of controlling violence as witnessed in both the Mpongwe and Livingstone by-elections.
This was contained in a statement issued by Zambia Police Deputy Inspector General Solomon Jere.
ZANIS
How painful a post is a policeman?
Just pawnmongers of the governments
Thanks
Muvi news website has latest info.Dr Jere has rescinded his decision.The game is still on.May the best party with the right message for the people win.
@2.3 GOOD MOVE,
You claim that the Met police had cancelled many public meetings but you fail to mention just one of the ‘many public meetings’ that was cancelled and where in the UK.
Secondly, you also claim that one organisation was made to protest in ‘one corner with heavy police presence’ again you fail to name the organisation.
If you truly live or (‘leave’ as you put it) in London as you claim you should have known about the efficiency of policing here, free from political interference.
Paid
Official
Liars
In
Court
Evidence
@ DISTANT DRUMS – I like your spirit. There are some people who want to tell lies childishly thinking that nobody will know – almost like a child stealing sugar! The only thing I can thank President Sata for is how his unbelievably incompetent and brutal government has exposed the degree of ignorance that still lurks in our country. I’m actually shocked. It is almost like one those Alien films where at the beginning of the movie everybody looks like a human being, but then as the movie progresses you start seeing aliens revealing themselves by their behaviour and transformations. Absolutely shocking! Some of the high profile ignorant *****s even forget that after PF they will remain to account for their actions. I have never seen…
Policemen are helpful in the UK, you are lost they would help you, they are independent of the government and they have integrity in their positions
The independent commission scruitinises their sound judgement and decisions. They are not compromised and are not perceived in any shape or form as being used by the other party
They are paid soundly and are well respected in the community.
Why is this different in Zambia?
Thanks
Zambia is a police state that’s why we diffrent.
Those policeman in Zambia work for the president and get instructions directly from him. He appoints, fires, promotes, demotes and moves them around as he wishes. Here in the UK the police work in partnership with the community and answerable to the people.
If you haven’t broken the law don’t mislead the public.I leave in the UK.They had cancelled many public meetings to maintain peace and order at one time one organisation was made to protest in one corner with heavy presence of police
Good Move
Ofcourse you ‘leave’ in the UK. If you ‘live’ in the UK you will understand the easy of the police in the UK.
When did you ‘leave’ then? 🙂
And where were these cancellations you are talking about, what borough?
Thanks
@Good Move, You must be based at the Zambian High Commission for you not to know the difference between Leave and Live!
I agree with with everything you have said except that the Police officers in the UK are not soundly paid – they start at £19,078 pa {London region) which is not really great which is even less than a cleaning supervisor at Sainsbury supermarket! Dedication to duty is driven by career aspirations in most cases unlike in Zed where everyone wants to make money without working for it!
@2.3 “BAD MOVE” is a liar – he has never lived in the UK – may be Chibolya! UK has strong laws and ministers like Jonathan Aitken, Geoffrey Archer and several MPs have been imprisoned which in office.
Spot on, Mushota.
That is what lacks in many African, Arabic, some European and Asian countries.
Mushota,
Your English is quite bad. You laugh at GOOD MOVE for writing “leave” instead of “live” but your write the following sentence: “If you ‘live’ in the UK you will understand the easy of the police in the UK”. What is this? Please, humble yourself and do the honourable thing i.e. shut up!
Mushota, I have liked your posts since your visit to Zambia and I welcome this change. But I am curious as to what has led you to this, becoz previously almost all your posts would demean Zambia and Zambians in favour of the white people
Because in UK neither the Head of State (QEII) nor Head of the Government (PM) can interfere in the Constabulary and Scotland Yard work. Where you live?
A Village does not need to change the rules by which it has lived just to suit the Village
!dio.t
Yaba ba Solomon Jere, tamwaishiba ati kwaliba ba Electoral Commission of Zambia? Please hold your fire. You will end up burning your fingers in your quest to impress your master. Do not be overzealous for nothing. Zambians are intelligent people and deserve their freedoms. You are not the only one who loves peace; we do too. The decision you made would in fact bring more violence. You should think properly with your brain and not with your belly. Be rational in your decision making. It is Zambia we are talking about here; not your bedroom.
Police has a duty to protect lives in short to maintain peace and order.Tell me which country allow police to stand idle when peace is threatened.Jere is right sir do your work prevention is better than cure.How I wish rallies are held in Kabulonga or Longaces areas
@4.1 BAD MOVE: You know nothing – all you is Zambia where there are jungle laws so dont mislead others. IDI.OT!
Tuchawa ba azungu anikonde. Jere knows that his police career will end at the same time as the Pathetic failure Government.
Ok ba Jere apo pena mwalilufyanya yama.
Solomon Jere. You must be an embarrassment to yourself for showing how much of a puppet you are. At your level, it is not enough to follow orders chinampofu. You need to think through as well. Clearly leadership is one of your weakest points and count your blessings because elsewhere you would by now have been history.
Spot on! This id.iot of Jere is an embarassment to the Country and even Ukwa!
Ba Jere, u are highly qualified to even run the police dept. But, to my suprise you seen to please your master. Don’t be so naïve other wise you may have cases to answer after the resume goes out of office. Take your time reflect, don’t rush speed kills. Zambia is not for Sata and Kabimba/masebo, its for us all including yourself. With this behavior better ask chanda chimba –iii he has a good story to tell. The man was excited, he insulted the king cobra in anyway just by telling the trueth. But you is abuse of office. Nchito will easly change goal posts then you will be in for it. I don’t knw if you have started serving other wise you will need legal aid looking at your take home. I hop apart frm that woman who dumped you in austria you managed to get another cheap one as your wife…
For the painful time in history of Zambia to be a police officer. Poor Dr. Jere has no choice but he just has to bark as the master say.
am a political animal i dont play with political babies
I expected a man of the calibre of Dr Jere to be a man with an independent mind and sound judgements. He also acting like a Kaponya!
IWE CHI MUSHOTA DONT LIE POLICE IN U.K LOCKS UP SUSPECTS FOR 28 DAYS WITH OUT BOND ESPECIALLY ON MERE SUSPICION SO DONT TALK RUBBISH,JUST STAY IN SCOTLAND ON THE GOVT HAND OUTS.GET YOURSELF A JOB AS STREET SWEEPER AND KEEP SCOTLAND CLEAN.CHI LAZY WOMAN
Mushota is a liar I live here Police can not allow what was happening in Livingstone they could disperse every one and those who resist get arrested.Why do You condemn police officers when they are maintaining order
@12.1 GOOD MOVE,
I have responded to your comment and you can find it right up @1.2
Solomon kubilima.
Let PF Govt. request for Police officers from UK.No drink driving,no over speeding,no bribes or corruption,no Un licenced drivers,cars without road taxi and insurance impounded and crushed, no fake MOT or fitness you get banned for traffic offences once you accumulate enough points.Can the PF made a request now
African CONSTABLE …Limbikilani a JERE u might become president of Zambia
I do not encourage my fellow police officers to go for higher education. Simple reason is that in police higher education is a waste of time. when you are in police, your brain automatically get drained to an extent that even if you had a PhD it gets grained faster than you got it. For example the drain in Jere is so rapid that by now even a certificate holder has more brain than him.
Is the Inspector General on leave (or Strike) for her Deputy to be making decisions that border on major Policy ?
Ba Jere, bola ni panshi. Wait for your time
Brace yourselves for third term if someone lives another 10 years.Jere has become a useful *****!
Dr Jere is so educated but once an Easterner always an Easterner, I mean “muzungu anikonde”
In a normal country, Jere would resign.
Without even being asked to do so but i doubt if he will …….i am ow demanding his resignation for breaking the law.
Solomon Jere , wasupuka , as you were!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Mushota zambia is a third world country.your description of your zambia in recent posts is stil fresh in my mind. We all want to Lead decent lives including policemen,the behaviour of the police is reflection of what happens in most african countries.insala mushota ku zambia
@18 Bulu In the first place I differed in opinion (approach) with Dr S Jere and at the same time finds your generalizing theory highly offensive to people like me who thinks independently of any external forces (factors).
Not interested!!!!
To start comparing Police in Zambia and UK is a waste of time and any normal person will avoid that. There is nothing normal in Zambia from Politicians, people’ s understanding of public service, ……up to minor matters of driving.
@1 Mushota to pose that u are in Scotland, a PhD student, and are courting a whiteman Nicky is actually living in a world of fantasy. Your English is no better than my grade 7 nephew at my home. Look at your comment in 1, no punctuations. The whole statement does not make any sense to me. Certainly you are just a comedian living in one of the ungraded compounds of Lusaka.
I wonder at people who gets so excited at your comments, as if you have gone further than a grade 7 in your level of education. No substance in your articulated views. Go back to school and start from Grade 8, My dear.
Dr Jere not even constables straight from Lilayi would act like this. No wonder Ukwa appointed his woman friend’s niece to be your boss.
These are the people who make Sata to look even worse than he really is! This is what happened to Hitler and Idi Amin. Their supporters (like Jere in this case) were taking extreme decisions in the name of the Furher and Dada and all the blame went to the leaders of course. The opposition leaders MUST call for Jere’s resignation for interfering in the elections! You cant have the ECZ and the Police running elections – it is unheard of! The chap Jere is really confused!
Which schools did those cops go? They are a symbol of illiteracy!
# 12 Kachigamba. I have lived in UK for more than 15 yrs and religiously follow very political and economic developments on daily basis. All these years, I am yet to come accross where an individual has been detained for more than 24 hrs without any commencement legal process let alone your wild guess of 28 days detansion without advancement of reasons. Do not misinform the public about UK and what is obtaining in Zambian shameful politics.
MBAMBANDE*29 YOU MAY HAVE STAYED IN UK FOR 15 YEARS BUT HOW LONG AGO,YOU MAYBE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE 2000 BECAUSE U.K. IS NOT THE SAME AFTER SEPT 11 2001.SO PLZ DO NOT TALK ABOUT THINGS YOU DONT KNOW.I AM NOT MISINFORMING PEOPLE.UK LAWS HAVE CHANGED YES THE POLICE IN U.K. HAS THE POWER TO DETAIN A SUSPECT FOR 28 DAYS AND NOT 24 HOURS AS YOU ARE SAYING.PLZ GET YOUR FACT RIGHTS BEFORE YOU ACCUSE OTHERS.READ U.K. PAPERS AND NOT THE CHEAP WATCHDOG.WATCHDOGS ARE READ BY KAPONYAS ANT BY AN EDUCATED PERSON.DONT CONDEMN THE ZP AS THEY HAVE A JOB TO MAINTAIN PEACE DURING CAMPAIN PERIOD . SUPPORT THE GOVT OF THE DAY SO THAT YOU CAN BUILD A STRONG ZAMBIA.THIS IS NOT ABOUT PF OR MMD.
ERROR I MEANT WATCHDOG IS NOT READ BY AN EDUCATED PERSON.
All those calling on the Doc to resign are mere under 5 babies studying on Govt bursaries at obscure Russian and Chinese polytechnics or are economic refugees in the uk cleaning toilets or changing diapers 4 old people.You are intoxicated by the sight of matuvi every minute hence your incorrigible grammar like one Mushota .Here in Zambia,when the appointment authority says jump,you ask how high & not why.
Funny how everyone that is correcting the other (on grammar or spellings) has or have an error in their own posts. Quite ironic actually.
Bwana Jere at his best.
people of Eastern province..tame this chap..he’s embarrassing you again..what law did he do in Australia..?
Ladies and gentlemen,
If you read through all the comments we are posting everyday, you will notice that there is so much hate towards one another.If all bloggers on LT or ZWD were given a chance to meet, i can assure you there would be more bloodshed than we seeing now in these rallies.If you go back to the history of our beloved country, you will find out that we have been fighting all along.Let us now compare what we have been figthing for then to now.Is what we are doing worth it?If it is, what would be our best approach?
Instead of acting like toothless hyenas, i for one would prefer to tackle this probem from its grassroots.Am pretty sure you will all agree that in our zambian culture, we used to believe in extended families( very few pipo do now).This is just one of the reasons…
cont’d
This is one of the reasons why we are experiencing such violence.We have abandoned what we are suposed to pride in the most to the outside world and that is love.We are suposed to be the only people in this world who are born with several mothers, several fathers, plenty sisters and brothers and no uncles or aunties even cousins.
Come on guys its never too let….
It is in public domain that Chris Akufuna is a staunch MMD symphasizer. Reflect on how he use to behave against opposition parties especially PF during Mwanawasa and RB’s rule. HEMCS should consider retiring this guy. Again he is showing impartiality against the ruling government. Shame…!!!
“Dr” Solomon Jere joins a bunch of other “Drs” like “Dr” Cosmo Mumba, “Dr” Edgar Ngoma, “Dr” SaansaKuwa etc. Jere is a sorry sight! Firstly the man can’t even express himself fluently in Her Majesty’s language, always stuttering, but expresses himself very well in song and dance. Jere is not a professional. Chingaipe, Brenda Muntemba are professionals in their field not Jere, Stella and Katanga. Just look at the professional demeanor of Brenda Muntemba, a real woman, a real cop! But such don’t stay long! How pitiful!
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