United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema says media practitioners deserve the respect of politicians regardless of the media houses they represent.

Mr. Hichilema notes that Journalists play an important role in the dissemination of information to citizens hence the need to grant them the respect they deserve and to protect them at all times.

Mr. Hichilema says suppressing and intimidating the media is tantamount to infringing on their freedom and denying the majority Zambians access to vital information.

He says Zambians have the right to information and to be educated on the many issues affecting the nation hence the need to give space to the media to do their work professionally for the benefit of all Zambians.

The UPND leader has since hailed both the public and private media for the hard work and fair coverage of all political parties in the country.

Mr. Hichilema notes that there has been great improvement in the way journalists are executing their duties in the country apart from a few media houses which he hopes will also emulate other professional media houses.

Meanwhile, UPND Vice President for politics Canisius Banda has dismissed as political propaganda assertions that his party is locked in a fight with the MMD.

Dr. Banda says those insinuating that the two opposition parties are fighting each other have fallen prey to the machinations of what he has termed as dark forces.

He has told Qfm news in an interview that the fight his party is involved in is against poverty, ignorance and disease.

Dr Banda says it is on this basis that the UPND wants the ruling Patriotic Front to be removed from power for allegedly deceiving Zambians and subjecting them to misery and suffering.

He says his party is offering an alternative development plan which will, among other things, ensure education for all, food security, reduce deficits in the national budget and ensure decent healthcare.

Dr. Banda has further stated his party is not overrating itself by claiming to be the only political party currently with the capacity to wrestle power the ruling PF.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Zambia Police Service says the 15 years minimum sentence for indecent assault is too harsh for a mere touch.

James Masiye has submitted to the Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission sitting in Matero township in Lusaka today that the Police Service also has trouble to justify what characterizes defamation of the Republican President because the offence has no proper definition.

But Commissioner Emily Sikazwe who is also Women for Change Executive Director defended the minimum sentence of 15 years for indecent assault saying the law was fair as most women did not like to be touched unnecessarily.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Masiye has defended the failure by officers to enforce some laws saying this was due to inadequate consultation when they are being formulated.

Mr. Masiye told the Commission that some controversial laws such as the Public Order Act has dragged the name of the police service into disrepute because officers have no option but to enforce it even if they know that it was not for the good for the citizens.

Mr Masiye submitted that Police Officers have been accused of abrogating laws in their discharge of duties because they are not consulted enough when laws are being formulated and end up making mistakes when implementing them.

He also disclosed that the Public Order Act has put the police service in ridicule as it is too unspecified and can easily be abused by officers depending on the application.

But Commission Chairperson Frederick Chomba wondered why the police service had continued to abuse the law when the Constitution was clear that people do not need a permit to convene a meeting but to merely inform the police.

Justice Chomba observed that the police were enforcing colonial laws that were revised a long time ago where citizens were compelled to seek police permits before holding meetings which he said is no longer the case.

However, Assistant Commissioner Masiye disclosed that in most cases police officers who are the implementers of the law are left out or given little time to make submissions to draft bills hence they face problems to implement certain laws because they have little understanding.

He cited the amendment of the penal code on indecent assault which carries a minimum of 15 years and the defamation of the president as some of the laws where the police service was not adequately consulted.
He said some cases such as those involving child marriages, deforestation and being found in possession of ivory carries harsh sentences which might send all the boys and villagers to prisons if not revised.

And Mr. Masiye recommended that the position of Inspector General of Police should have certain qualifications and tenure of officer so that office holders could be objective when dealing with citizens.

He also stated that the Police Service is losing too much human resource due to early retirement of provincial commanders after the change of government and recommended they should not be appointed and sworn in by the Head of State in order to avoid the tendency of retiring young officers.

49 year old man of Matero Township in Lusaka this morning repeatedly broke down before the Legal and Justice Sector Reform Commission when he narrated how he allegedly lost his potency due to police torture.
The petitioner submitted to the Commission that a named police officer at Matero Police Station tortured him resulting in him losing his potency.

Sealled Katwamba, a retrenchee failed to hold his emotions when he narrated how a police officer he had differed with in a personal matter implicated him in an aggravated robbery case.He said he was brutality manhandled and tortured at Matero police station.

Mr. Katyamba told the Commission that he was tortured and forced to accept that he committed the crime which he did after he could not handle the pain and was later admitted to the University Teaching Hospital where he spent months to recover.He disclosed that upon being discharged from the hospital the police officers re-arrested him but that he was only saved by lawyers from the Legal Resources Foundation who took the case to court where he was compensated K10 million (old currency) which he said was not worth his lost potency.

The petitioner who has a speech impairment (stammers) disclosed that because of too much torture to his private parts he can no longer have children.

When asked whether he has ever been to UTH for a medical check up to see if his potency could be restore, Mr. Katyamba cried further saying he does not want to see the hospital because of the psychological effects it has on him.

Commissioner Emily Sikazwe calmed the petitioner down while her colleagues and members of the public who were in attendance looked solemn with others almost breaking down in sympathy.

Mr Katyamba disclosed that the two police officers who were involved in his case were transferred to Kafue and Kitwe and that no disciplinary action was taken against them.

And Mr. Katyamba said the Anti-Corruption Commission should be part of police officers at roadblocks to curb corruption.

Commenting on the matter, Commissioner Geoffrey Sakulanda noted that despite Mr Katyamba’s case having been addressed by the courts the Human Rights Commission should be informed so that action can be taken against the police officers in their individual capacities for violating human rights.

Meanwhile, a former Employee of the Human Rights Commission has disclosed that the Commission has no capacity to carry out its mandate of preventing human rights violations and following up cases.Speaking when he made his submission before the Fredrick Chomba led commission, Samuel Kasanka disclosed that the Human Rights Commission has no presence in most districts and that it was faced with the challenge of inadequate funding and low staffing levels.

Mr. Kasanka noted that due to its failure to discharge its duties to the expectation of the people, Zambians have lost confidence in the Commission.
He further submitted that the Human Rights Commission was aware that the Law enforcement agencies use torture to force suspects to confess which he said was a violation of human rights.

Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has called on Zambians to set aside their political grievances and participate in the golden jubilee celebrations.
Dr Mwaanga says any grievances that people might have should not affect Zambia’s 50 years of independence celebrations on October 24.

Speaking during radio Phoenix’s Let the people talk programme in Lusaka today, Dr Mwaaanga said those with grievances should find a different platform where they could be addressed.

He said there is need for the country to develop capacity to deal with conflict resolution within and among the people.

Dr. Mwaanga who was recently bestowed with a doctorate of philosophy in conflict resolution by the Copperbelt University encouraged Zambians to exhibit tolerance and to respect each other’s opinion.

Dr. Mwaanga has also urged Zambians to continue working hard adding that it was the only way in which Zambia could achieve economic development.
He said the efforts that started years ago must continue even after 50 years of independence.

The veteran politician said the hard work rendered now won’t only exhibit continuous progress in the country but will also benefit generations to come.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mwaanga has emphasized the need for Zambia to monitor all the major entry border points of the country so as to look out for any possible cases of Ebola.

Dr. Mwaanga further said the country should be sufficiently alert in case of any signs of Ebola which is a deadly disease and has broken out in some parts of West Africa claiming several lives.