In a statement, LAZ President Linda Kasonde says the association has noted statements in the media attributed to President Edgar Lungu and Vice President Inonge Wina calling for the punishment of the people that caused the fire.

Ms Kasonde states that while LAZ appreciates that this is an emotive issue, government should exercise restrain until the matter is fully and thoroughly investigated so that the cause of the fire can properly be determined.

She says LAZ further cautions the public against speculating as to who caused the fire and what their motives were at this early stage.

Ms Kasonde adds that all citizens are guaranteed the protection of the Bill of Rights as provided by the Republican Constitution and such rights should never be abrogated as to do so would defeat the ends of democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law in Zambia.

She says LAZ further urges government to look into the plight of the victims of the fire and hopes that efforts to reconstruct the market will be undertaken in the shortest possible time.

The LAZ president says the fire that consumed property of defenceless, ordinary Zambian citizens is deeply regretted, especially in light of the fact that the destroyed property was the only source of livelihood for many of the victims of the fire.

Ms Kasonde states that LAZ calls upon law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter, and if the fire was an act of arson, bring perpetrators to book in the shortest possible time.

CiSCA profoundly regrets the fire that gutted the city market during the long weekend and deeply sympathises with the affected traders. We do not, however, accept that that the incident of the fire at city market is enough justification for the declaration of a public emergency or declaration relating to threatened emergency. We therefore strongly urge the President not to use his constitutional powers under article 30, declaration of public emergency and 31, declaration relating to threatened emergency loosely.

CiSCA would like to remind President Lungu that the crime of arson is adequately covered by the Penal Code and is far from the realm of reasons for declaration of a State of emergency real or threatened.

We would like to further remind the President that suspending any of our fundamental freedoms is essentially suspending our dignity and humanity. Further, we want to categorically remind him that his executive powers are derived from us the citizens of this country under Article 90, and not the other way around.

Furthermore, we want to state that a declaration of public emergency is enforced by the police whom we have already seen disregarding with impunity some aspects of Article 15 which protects all of us, including suspected criminals, from inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment or other like treatment which is a non-derogable human right and cannot be suspended even in a state of public emergency. We do not believe that the police is adequately prepared to manage such an emergency considering that the previous state of emergency was 26 years ago and at a time when trust and confidence in our police service is at an all-time low.

CiSCA would like to inform fellow citizens that if and when the emergency is declared, there are rights that cannot be suspended even in an emergency. The full protection of these rights that cannot be suspended is impossible to implement in a state of emergency without infringing on them because human rights are inter-related, interdependent and indivisible. The rights to life, Article 12, to be protected from slavery and forced labour, Article 14 and to be protected from inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment, Article 15 cannot be suspended. We urge citizens not to be afraid because human rights are not a sovereignty issue and have not been since 10th December 1948.

CiSCA hopes and prays that the affected traders will be adequately supported to rebuild their businesses again. A clear and transparent mechanism should be put in place to ensure that whatever support is provided goes only to those who are affected. CiSCA prays that measures will be put in place to prevent occurrences of fires in public places and bylaws that guarantee the security and safety of people and property will be enforced.

Issued by:

John H. Mambo Chairperson CivilSocietyConstitutionAgenda

Incarcerated UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has called on the Zambia Police Service to thoroughly, professionally and speedily investigate what he has described as the regrettable fire that gutted part of Lusaka City Market yesterday.

In a statement issued to QFM News, Mr. Hichilema is also urging Lusaka residents and other people who may have information that led to the fire to assist the police as they investigate.

Mr. Hichilema says a professional, unbiased and conclusive investigation is essential in order to determine the true cause of the fire.

He says this will assist the country in deciding and acting on proactive measures to minimize similar tragedies going forward.

The UPND Leader says this will also help the community to avoid un-researched conclusions as to the cause of the fire given the already negative political situation in the country.

Mr. Hichilema has since offered his sympathy to those who have lost merchandise, property and other valuables in the inferno given the current economic and social difficulties that people are going through.

Below is the full statement

The news that President Edgar Lungu is once again contemplating invoking emergency powers to declare a State of Emergency is extremely worrying to us as the Green Party.

Invoking a State of Emergency is a violent response to violence.

As we have always stated, violence, whether by the State, bandits, vandals or terrorist, and in whatever form, and for whatever reasons, is almost always self-defeating because it breeds more and more violence. The ultimate victims are innocent souls who many a time have nothing to do with the scores the perpetrators intend to settle with their perceived enemies.

Invoking the State of Emergency is State-sponsored terror in that the police, army, and other security agencies are given unlimited power to reign terror on innocent citizens through dusk-to-dawn curfews where citizens will be unwarrantedly arrested and detained; citizens will be deprived of their rights to privacy and subjected to humiliating house and body searches; right to freedom of movement will be curtained, including right to ownership of private property and other rights. Such measures will only exacerbate tension and divisions in the nation.

As the Green Party, we believe the declaration of the State of Emergency is extremely uncalled for at this point in time, not only because the emergency measures will deprive citizens of their constitutional rights, but is likely also adversely hurt the economy. The emergency measures will surely scare away the donors, investors and tourists. Our economy is too fragile to endure such economic fallout.

In this regard, we implore the President to exercise maximum restraint on invocation of emergency powers. The negative consequences of such measures by far out-weigh the positive outcomes. If anything, invoking emergency powers is like playing in the hands of perpetrators of acts of sabotage. The primary objective sabotage acts is to aggravate ill-feelings and more violence so as to plunge the nation into terror, humiliation and anarchy. If State response is by way of more terror, through the State of Emergency, then the saboteurs will achieve their objective.

Our view as the Green Party is that instead of invoking emergency powers, the President, as the Commander-in-Chief, should better still order for a mobilization and deployment of all Army, Police, National Service and other defence and security, who were trained by the United Nations and African Union in peace keeping and observer missions tactics to guard strategic public and private installations countrywide, with unequivocal instructions to abide by constitutional imperatives.

Our defence and security agency have excelled across the world in terms of peace-keeping and observer duties. They need to replicate their achievements abroad here at home. Meantime, whilst the troops restore order, most importantly, we the politicians should immediately go into a dialogue mode to resolve our differences and chart a peaceful way forward. There is need to urgently reform institutions that have gotten the nation into this ill-fated situation of terror, tension, disunity, and deep hatred, especially the Constitutional Court and the Electoral Commission of Zambia. We should not continue burying our heads in the sand pretending there is no problem when our nation is slowly and surely getting into political and security decay.

The opposition UPND have refused to acknowledge the outcome of August 11th election in which the PF were declared winners but Mr Chiluba says the AU’s declaration should halt the retrogressive talks of legitimacy which is dividing the nation.

The former COBUSU President said not acknowledging the authority is what has led to high levels of intolerance and the divisions which are being seen in the country today.

“As MMD Die Hard Youth Wing it is our expectation that after the declaration by the African Union that “Zambia’s August 11 2016 elections were free and fair and were further coupled with transparency”, political leaders need to halt talks of legitimacy and finally accept the authority in government.

“Lack of acknowledging the authority in power is what has led the country to these levels of sabotage we are expriencing today and that is why we need to immediately take a leave from talks that cannot be substantiated.

“The AU has given its position with regard to the August elections after thorough investigations and observations that surrounded the voting, that is why Zambians should, starting from today and going forward be comforted that there was no victory which was stolen from them as the African Union which is a respected organ in Africa and speaks without fear or favour has made a declaration that as usual the elections were free and fair,” he said.

Mr Chiluba further urged government to quickly put an end to what he termed politically motivated acts of arson.

“We are therefore, calling upon the government of the Republic of Zambia to quickly end this politically motivated arson by puting in place serious security interventions so as not to drawback our efforts in developing of our respective communities. Because this loss of assets will force many into deprivation and economic distress, which will eventually lead the country into further abject poverty.

“We are further calling for the involvement of all stake holders which includes; the Church, traditional leaders, political players, Civil society organisations, the Youth and all men and women of Zambia regardless of their previous standing with the government to rise above politics and begin to build and walk in a positive and committed path of reconciliation,” he said.

Likili bus accident along Pedicle road in DRC

Six people have died while over 20 have been admitted to Ronald Ross Hospital in Mufulira and Mansa General Hospitals when a Kashikishi bound Likili Bus overturned 30 kilometers on the pedicle road in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The bus which left Ndola in the morning is suspected to have been over speeding when it overturned killing five people including 2 teachers from Nchelenge.

Mufulira District Commissioner Hildah Kawesha who rushed to the scene says six people died on the spot while eight were rushed to Mansa for treatment.

Mrs. Kawesha says four of the dead are females while two are males.

And Ronald Ross Hospital acting head of clinical care Nathan Singogo has described the over 15 victims admitted as stable.

Dr. Singogo has told ZNBC news that only one person is in the intensive care unit and the rest are in the ward recovering.