OPPOSITION candidates for the next Thursday’s Kafulafuta by-election have described the deployment of 594 police officers in the constituency as an act of intimidation.
United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Brian Chitafu and his National Restoration Party (NAREP) counterpart Jimmy Kasabwa condemned the deployment in separate interviews.
Mr Chitafu said the people of Kafulafuta constituency were brothers and sisters who would not rise against each other just because of a by-election and that there was no need to have such a huge deployment.
“We are not at all why bring us all those officers. Some of these villagers have never seen a gun and maybe scared to go and vote in a militarised environment like that,” he said.
He added that the deployment of so many officers who are biased towards the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) was meant to instill fear in the constituents and that it was the major source of voter aparthy.
Mr Kasabwa, on the other hand, said the deployment was unnecessary as it would instead agitate the people into the violence that has marred most of the by-elections in the past.
“We are all brothers here. What caused violence in other elections is imported cadres from other towns but here in Kafulafuta we are campaigning just among ourselves as relatives,” he said.
But candidate James Chishiba argued that while Kafulafuta was a peaceful place, the presence of police officers was necessary in order to keep vigil in case of a break down of the law.
Mr Chishiba wondered why the opposition was getting scared of the presence of police officers when it was an Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) requirement which was also communicated in the briefings that all participating parties attended.
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“The only people who are scared of police officers are those who do wrong things, for me if the police officers are coming to keep vigil during the elections, i have no problem with it and i don’t think thats intimidation,” he said.
On Wednesday, Inspector General of police Stella Libongani announced that the Zambia Police Service would deploy 594 officers to police the constituency during the campaigns and on polling day.
The Kafulafuta constituency which is being contested by PF, UPND and NAREP fell vacant after area MP Mr Chishiba defected from the MMD to join the ruling.
Wazakaza……..
With the self-inflicting wounds by the MMD, with the UPND still seeking recognition, this is the time for the PF to masculine their muscles
Nothing wrong in the form of democracy as long as you play within the rules and laws
I can foresee the PF getting stronger, and be default I can see the other wilting in oblivion
I have been impressed with the way they done things with the spirit of democracy and changed the landscape of Zambia, for instance job creation can not be claimed it is evident, people are happier in the country. I have since gone back to Zambia where in all honest word on the street is that Zambia is a place to live NOT because of MMD but because of PF
If you are not impressed with them, then you are a remnant of persons associated with disliking their own shadow
Well…
The three police on this picture! black and ready to kill. They look more criminals than police service officers. LT use different pics/////////////////
What does hign mean? LT please get a dictionary.
Very sad indeed….the young men look like they are going for war -actually they are being abused and turned against the people they should be protecting. Sorry baice, I know it’s against your wish, but you’ve mouths to feed…
Iyemwe………….kalandakaskola!
Even Mufumbwe was rural but we don`t need to be reminded what happened there.Let the police be there to make sure that the elections are conducted in a free and fair way.
waponoka webo na recruit hahaha!!!
Why all this police phobia? Police is your friend, what are you scared of?
Friends don’t come armed. Would you welcome me in your house if I came with a panga?
I am very disappointed by the UPND/NAREP statement. Were they planning to break the law and now fear the police presence will prevent them from doing so?
Come on, the PF is beatable if you start acting like opposition political parties and not NGOs. Go flat out and talk to real people. Sata also used to be harrassed by MMD. Nothing new there.
Can UPND/NAREP tell us HOW those police men/women will prevent their supporters from going to the polling stations to vote BUT only allow PF voters?
Just how?
Stop this childish attitude or else I shall start believing you are real UNDER FIVES. Enough of being let down by our promising young intellectual politicians. HH and Chipimo, read this comment. I had hoped……….Oh!!!.
Real issue is ZP stopping you having rallies. PF 100%…
I meant PF 100% WRONG.
HH, UPND has been around for sometime and I am sure you have people who can speak – yourself, Dr Canicius Banda and Musamba – use them. Delegate. You cannot be everywhere.
Apart from being prevented from meeting people by ZP, opposition political parties are stretched for money while the ruling party has access to tax payers money.
I recall how PF and the current HE struggled to reach places when MMD was busy using tax payers money. It was bad and I really symphathised esp. when the President almost injured himself getting out of that little air-transport PF hired to reach Senanga.
I have not tears for the MMD.
Umu fella muli black shed alemoneka tough tested! Kuti watina ….
the mammbalas want to rig..atase..
look at this sick emaciated officers ,too funny
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…these officers who have watched too many western movies and their thinking is at grade 3 Level. What a mess…..
So sad indeed to see these dimwits in uniform living in a fantasy world ! Instead of looking out for the poor Zambians on the ground they kill and/maim in the name of loyalty to their dog handlers! COULD THESE BE THE KABIMBA’S DOGS OF WAR in operation???? Back in the day, KK formed the Para-Millitary Police to intimidate and harass the people, Now it seems somebody has emulated KK and formed his own DOGS OF ANIMAL FARM in order to reign supreme over the ordinary people of Zambia. The only time they show them some respect is when they want to coerce them into voting for the “animals that are more equal than others” !
This photo speaks volumes about us as a society….it really pains me to the very core that 50 years after independence and Zambia’s police service still retains this intimidating paramilitary wing from the UNIP era. When are we going to invest in our police? We are happy to invest millions of dollars in building useless football stadia we don’t need, cannot fill to full capacity and purchasing the latest Jeeps for the bloated cabinet and deputy ministers yet our ZP lack simple comms 2-way radios, modern crowd control training, and are ferried around like dogs in the back of Jeeps.
When are we going to sort priorities out…there is nothing stopping us investing the selfsame amount of money on each officer like is invested on one NY police officer.
Please WAKE UP people!!
In the photo above the Kapokola with shades is improperly dressed and must be punished. How does he wear the hat backwards as if he is a gangster? As an officer of the law he is supposed to dress dicently and “properly” and not as if he is going for a drinking spree. Thats why people are complaining that our police is not professional. I am sure this is one of the many PF thugs that have been incorporated into the police force. Those of you who have had the opportunity to be associated with the military will attest that it is not allowed to wear your hat in that fashion. There is no way a properly trained officer can dress the way this militia chap is dressed. This chap is a fake and just one of the thugs the PF are using disguised as cops. This country has gone to the dogs.
I like the thuggish appearance…. Beat them up! Ni Seka oponoke…
Are these Cambodian soldiers in the days of Pol Pot when he declared a zero year in 1979 or what? It reminds me of the carnage that we read about Cambodia.
594 police officers? and When the opposition parties wants to addres a rally they Say there is no man power.
Already thrown in the towel before the first punch is thrown! Zambian opposition parties are comical at best and useless when it comes to strategy. Another seat for PF. If the opposition doesn’t wake up and smell the coffee this will become a norm. Don’t even cry rigging afterwards!
But BA PF. Nibakuwee. Ninshi?? MUSHOTA Uli MBWA
These officers in uniform have been transfused with king cobra’s blood!
They have stopped thinking!
Instead of upholding their oath to protect citizens, they have become murderers of the same citizens they are supposed to protect!
The prophecy of T B Joshua is coming true for Zambia!
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