Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Youths from ActionAid calling their friends and family shortly after release from Lusaka Central Police
The Non Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) condemns in the strongest terms the detention of the over 40 youths by the Zambia Police on Wednesday, March 12 and the subsequent stripping of young girls of their T – Shirts during the Youth Day celebrations, for merely demanding the immediate release of the final draft constitution.
As an organisation, we are deeply concerned with the increased levels of intolerance of divergent views and attempts by the Party in Government to stifle fundamental rights of expression and assembly as enshrined in the Republican constitution. The detention and stripping of the youths on Youth Day is not only barbaric but rather undemocratic and an assault on our hard earned democracy. The stripping was at most against the fundamental human rights of the young girls and boys.
The youths who were detained for wearing T-Shirts with messages demanding for the release of the constitution had and have every right to protest and demand for the immediate release of the final draft constitution. It is totally unacceptable for the Patriotic Front (PF) Government to now resort to using state agencies to intimidate citizens from demanding that which is rightly theirs. We urge all Zambians not to be intimidated in their quest for a new people driven constitution.
The constitution belongs to the Zambian people and the PF Government will not succeed in intimidating citizens on their demands for the constitution. The correct thing for the PF Government to do is to immediately give the Zambian people what is due to them – a people driven constitution. We urge the police to remain professional and desist from being used.
With regards to the stripping of the young girls, NGOCC requests the Inspector General of Police Ms Stella Libongani to immediately institute investigations so that the officers who assaulted the young girls can be brought to book. As a woman herself, we believe that Ms Libongani will not preside over a police service which abuses the rights of girls and women. NGOCC will in the meantime, conduct its own investigations to get to the bottom of the stripping of the young girls.
It is becoming abundantly clear that the PF is determined to deny the people of Zambia a people driven constitution.
We would like to assure the PF however that no amount of intimidation or propaganda will stop the Zambian people from demanding a new constitution.
Foundation for Democratic Process FODEP has challenged the Zambia Police Service to explain why it has continued to religiously apply the Public Order Act in a selective manner.
Speaking in an interview FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi condemned the arresting of Youths from Action Aid and other organisations for wearing T-shirts demanding for the release of the constitution.
He said the behavior of the police was uncalled for and a source of anarchy as well as disorder in the country.
Mr Chipenzi said their actions was pure evidence of how the police have continued to misapply act, abuse and oppress the people in the country.
Mr Chipezi said it is shocking that the youths who breached the law by wearing military uniforms were not arrested as required by the Public Order Act while the same act was used to arrest the peaceful youths from Action Aid who were just demanding for the constitution which is their right.
“Section3 of the Public Order Act subsection 1 reads subject as herein after provided any person who is in a public place or at any public meeting wears a uniform or displays any flag signifying his association with any political organisation or with a promotion of any political organisation is guilty of an offense”.explained Mr. Chipenzi.
He wondered who was guilty of an offense between the youths from Action Aid and those from the ruling Patriotic Front who were clad in uniforms saying the law is clear on who was suppose to be arrested.
He further noted that one can only wear a uniform when he/she has applied todo so in their own hand writing hence the Zambia Police should produce evidence that the PF applied to wear their uniforms during the celebrations yesterday.
Mr Chipenzi also challenged the Police to explain as to why the youths were arrested as they were only wearing T-shirts demanding for the constitution which is a supreme law that will protect everyone in the country including the police themselves from being abused by politicians.
“The act further states that a person shell not be guilt of an offense of wearing a uniform in a public place otherwise than at a procession or public meeting unless he is at the time acting or purporting to be acting on behalf of a political organisation”. He noted.
He appealed to the Police to apply the Public Order Act holistically as well as fairly without any bias adding that the law must be applied equally and equitably regardless of who has breached it.
Athletics icon and Zambia’s most successful sports man Samuel Matete is on Saturday set to announce his long time plan to challenge Zambia Athletics Association (ZAA) incumbent president Elias Mpondela during the association’s elective annual general meeting to be held this month.
Matete will become the second candidate to challenge Mpondela at the ZAA AGM as ex-association treasurer Christopher Manda announced his candidature last year.
Sources close to Matete say he will announce his decision to challenge Mpondela at a media briefing to be held in Kitwe on Saturday.
“Samuel Matete will be holding a media briefing on Saturday to announce his plan to contest the position of president at the ZAA AGM this month,” the source said.
Matete was last year appointed coach for the Zambia national athletics team but couldn’t take up the job after failing to agree personal terms with ZAA.
During his hey days, he won a gold medal at the 1991 World Championships and was twice silver medalist at the same event.
Roan United chairman Charles Sakala has revealed that the Luanshya side plans to confirm Kaunda Simonda as club head coach.
Simonda, a long serving assistant coach at Roan, has been acting as head coach since the departure of Bruce Mwape who joined Konkola Mine Police in August last year.
Sakala said Roan have begun the process of promoting Simonda and his assistant Hilary Makasa.
He said the executive is so far satisfied with the peformance of the two coaches.
“We have started the process to confirm Kaunda Simonda as our head coach and Hilary Makasa as his deputy,” Sakala said.
“We are very very happy with their peformance since Bruce left last season. We hope they are going to achieve a number of things,” he added.
Simonda has served as an assistant trainer at Kafubu Stadium under coaches Paul Mulenga and Chris Chibuye as well.
Meanwhile, Roan kick off the 2014 FAZ Super League season with a Week One home match against Nchanga Rangers at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya on Saturday.
President Sata with Dr Christine Kaseba Sata in Siavonga
The Constitution; Paramount Chief Chitimukulu; Mining in Lower Zambezi; “Useless PF MPs:” We are watching perhaps the voluntary self-destruction of President Michael Sata. Mark my words; if Sata falls from grace his confidants, including Guy Scott, Wynter Kabimba, Willie Nsanda, Chisimba Kambwili, and other legatees will lather and wash their hands in the usual turncoat style and describe him as the deaf and dumb red emperor who listened only to his voice.
“He treated us like sheep,” they will say. “He took us to the pasture in a rocky and barren land and left us there. Like sheep there was absolutely nothing we could do about it, even if we bleated.”
Others will say that his cabinet meetings were a sheer waste of time. “We were the butt of his ridicule. He subjected us to his abrasive comments, and forced us to listen to his archaic ideas. Those who dare voice a conflicting opinion left the room without clothing. In as far as he was concerned we were all chaff.”
The learned like Scott will be on television: “He was a megalomaniac,” they will decry. “A stone deaf despotic, dictatorial leader…completely allergic to advice…”
“Why didn’t you stop him, he’s your friend.”
“I tried,” Scott will say. “Like I said, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. When I made an effort, he grabbed the leash and flogged me with it. So I said what the heck, nivutikilanji.”
And “Innocent Chimfuntumba” will add: “He behaves that way because he’s a Tanzanian. He has nothing to lose. Like he told me, he will simply run away to his country of origin and never set a foot here.”
In a political party of apostates and renegades the above narration is not far-fetched—it is not fiction. It is very easy to throw Sata under the bus if he blows his reign, and it is possible he could do just that because he carries with him symptoms of self-destruction that are manifested in his egoistical trait and are evidenced in outrageous comments like “show me an animal-driven constitution.” Such an irresponsible comment can only come from a person who is so benighted he does not understand the importance of a constitution and its ramifications if fractured. He does not know or chooses to ignore the fact that the constitution has been the downfall of tyrants and dictators.
Why is Sata in the habit of undermining our intelligence?
)
Why does he tell us falsehoods? Why is he at liberty to cause us so much pain, stress, and anxiety? Why would a head of state urge his people to ignore the constitution debate? “Zambia does not need a new constitution,” he said. “We already have one.” This was after vowing a new constitution would be ready within the shortest period if he became president. While constitutional rhetoric in an election campaign is an important component of the candidate’s strategy to winning, failing to carry out the campaign promise on such a sensitive issue, and meddling with it like Sata is doing, is a recipe for self-destruction.
“Doctors must examine his mental state,” Nevers Mumba said.
[pullquote]Did you notice how rationally he responded to calls by the diplomatic corps and NGOs to resolve the constitution impasse? [/pullquote]
All those like Mumba who believe that Sata’s mind is so unsound he could take the country over the cusp of the abyss may not be far from the truth. But they also need to understand who he really is. The entire nation must be aware of what seems to provoke, attract, or trigger an element of recklessness in him. We have the right to thoroughly know him because his far-reaching actions like debasing the constitution, disrespecting the Bemba chiefdom, demeaning his own MPs, affect our emotions, thoughts, and activities.
President Sata may be perfectly normal, all I know. It is possible his outrageous acts are intentional. He could be using them to confuse potential usurpers. Did you notice how rationally he responded to calls by the diplomatic corps and NGOs to resolve the constitution impasse? “Government will consider the recommendations [of the constitution], because we have to factor the logistical and financial repercussions in order not to derail other pressing developmental projects,” he said in an urgent matter-of-fact. Clearly a lie, but it is all the same a statement far removed from his absurd “animal-driven constitution” ranting meant for us. So, why does he choose to sound erratic and obnoxious to us and perfectly logical to the nonpareil?
Answer: Because we have allowed him to.
Intellectuals empowered King Cobra
Let me put it crudely; our lackluster intellectuals, the so-called professors and doctors in our corporate and higher institutions of learning like the University of Zambia have helped him to elevate his erratic behavior to an art form. They have lamentably failed to be the country’s cognitive elite that protects the vulnerable, the hopeless, and the defenseless. They have failed to cleverly and intellectually identify and expose the incumbent’s psychological manipulative tactics. Because in their fraternity they don’t see eye-to-eye they have failed to create counter strategies aimed at watering down Sata’s maneuvers, some that could lead to a revolution.
In the absence of an effective intellectual watchdog, Sata has turned erratic behavior into a weapon; a scythe with which to mow the same intellectuals and keep them trimmed down to subservience. In fact he noticed the intellectual laissez-faire attitude back in 1985 when Kaunda extolled him as the “genius” who fixed Lusaka. He saw that Zambian intellectuals were not woven together and shared no causal entities that would transform the country into a power house; that they have failed to do what he did for Lusaka.
When some of the so-called intellectuals attempted to bar him from participating in the presidential elections because he did not have a degree, he retorted: “A degree or piece of paper written or signed by someone…some kama wigged or capped chap will not stand in my political way, it will not stand in my aspirations.” Sata’s comments stemmed from the fact that Zambian intellectuals had absolutely nothing to show off, not an invention or innovation. They were not as creative as he. And when he saw that they had failed to navigate through the minds of the poor, come out with great ideas, and benefit from their support, he created a mystical bond with them [the poor], pitched his themes to their desires, and pledged to be their savior.
He dribbled and dazzled the intellectuals they called him “King Cobra,” and he loved it. He was so excited he bought an effigy of the adder and displayed it in his office. Not a day passed without looking at it. To him, it projected his daily might; his feelings, thoughts, and experiences. It helped to quip his neural circuitry with proper defense appliances. He felt impregnable, untouchable, dangerous, and unpredictable. To him “King Cobra” was more than a tag for his ruggedness and insolence. It provided security and concealed who he really was. It made it possible for us to know him only tangentially; only as Lusaka’s superman. Yes, the title “King Cobra” conveyed symbolic ideas beyond meaning and consolidated his political integrity. With it he was able to apply emotional manipulation to intimidate, alarm, or put intellectuals in a temporary paralysis.
It is therefore with the help of the Zambian intelligentsia that King Cobra, with a humble education (Form 2), and with little understanding of the principles and fundamentals of democracy, and the power of the constitution, won the election and was elevated to demi-godly status. Zambian intellectuals accorded him untrammeled executive powers. He is now in a position to delay or kill the draft constitution or insist on one in which he is both kin-pin and eternal emperor of the nation. He can use his executive powers to dethrone Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and appoint a chief of his liking right in the face of the “brave” Bembas. He is now the head of state and commander-in-chief. In the ambit of the so-called democracy we have given Michael Chilufya Sata the red button to do with it whatever he likes.
Why future presidents should have a degree
Some graduands at the University of Zambia great east road campus hoist their head dresses after graduating in various programs
With Sata at the helm, it has become clear why future presidents should have a degree of some sort. Going by his handling of the draft constitution and his utterances on the matter, he does not have the academic clout on which to exercise his faculties. There is no intellectual dialogue going on between him and the citizenry, a clear indication that with his humble education he is not naturally inclined to intellectual debate. He is unable to use his knowledge to validate his concerns and offer some reflective listening and thinking. Often learned presidents, question, challenge, and empower the populace. Sata does the opposite because he does not know how. This should perhaps explain why he is not so enthusiastic about press conferences. Facebook is his comfort zone because he can engage ghost writers and respondents.
It also explains why his erratic behavior has become idiosyncratic. He uses it to mask his inadequacies, and insufficiencies. Often when he finds himself in the presence of people he perceives as smarter than him, he consciously or unconsciously applies the “roll over” tactic as a utility for self-empowerment. Those familiar with such semantics know that he is using erratic behavior to defy accurate judgment of his abilities, capabilities, and intellectual assessment. In all his media appearances we have watched him disengage the interviewer and take over the show. We saw him do that to Charles Mando and Goretti Mapulanga [both departed] and turn a serious interview into a “reality TV” show. He did so because he was afraid they could expose his intellectual deficiency. You only need to replay his interviews to see how he fails to articulate issues perceptively.
I know I am being hard on the president. He entered State House for this very reason; to be held responsible for his shortfalls. Those who support him may find it repugnant and inappropriate to attack him when they believe he is doing his best. But at the same time, it will be utterly irresponsible, timidly and outright wrong to watch him rule with such recklessness. We shall not bury our heads in the sand and allow him to rule by hook or crook, by trial and error, or learn as he rules. First and foremost as president he bears personal moral responsibility to secure a protected democracy. His office demands honesty, integrity, and dedication, and not lies and shenanigans. Most importantly, a man of his status must be a professional politician who understands both legislative and executive responsibilities. He must carry on the system of government with all the seriousness it deserves. He must always be reminded that we, the people of Zambia are not fools, we can tell a sweet potato when we see one.
The Bank of Zambia has to date pumped in US$ 178 million into the foreign exchange market to prevent the further depreciation of the Kwacha.
Bank of Zambia Governor Michael Gondwe told a media briefing that the central bank had to intervene in order to support the relatively low supply of foreign exchange and moderate volatility in the market.
Dr Gondwe explained that the likely impact of these relative tightening measures is to assist in reducing liquidity levels and to some extent dampen exchange rate pressures.
He said since the beginning of 2014, the Kwacha has depreciated against the US dollar by 7.8 percent to trade at an average of K 5.9406 per US dollar from an average of K 5.5126 per US dollar at the close of December 2013.
“Zambia’s economic growth and increased integration with the world economy has implied that international economic development have had a significant impact on the exchange rate. More recently for instance, the decision by the US Federal Reserve Board to reduce the amount of US dollar liquidity supplied through its quantitative easing program has broadly affected several emerging markets including Zambia’s,” Dr Gondwe said.
[pullquote]
Gross international Reserves have decreased to US$ 2.673 billion at the close of February 2014 from US$ 2.751 billion at end January
[/pullquote]He added, “the decline in the average price of copper to 7,010 per tonne at close of February from 7, 360 per tonne in December 2013 has had an adverse impact on the kwacha due to the high correlation between copper prices and market sentiments of the Kwacha dollar exchange rate.”
“Recent developments in the foreign exchange markets have raised concerns not only to the Bank of Zambia but also to the public at large. In some cases this has led to speculative behavior and panic buying of the foreign currency and thereby inducing more pressure on the exchange rate. Developments in the foreign exchange market reflect responses to the country’s growth needs and changes in the international environment,” Dr Gondwe said.
“Above all, this is expected to steer inflation developments towards the end of the year target of 6.5 percent and Government’s growth and employment objectives,” he said.
Dr Gondwe said a strong depreciation or a strong appreciation are not desirable outcomes for sustained growth and stability of any economy.
“In 2007, the Kwacha appreciated by 7.2 percent against the US dollar. This hurt the exporters of non-traditional goods especially the floricultural and horticultural products as they lost competitiveness. On the other hand, steep depreciation makes the imports of capital goods expensive and in inflationary,’ Dr Gondwe explained.
He added, “The Bank of Zambia is still committed to ensuring that the exchange rate remains relatively stable and competitive and will therefore endeavor to take all the necessary measures aimed at minimizing exchange rate volatility while at the same time exploiting opportunities that will arise to accumulate reserves.”
Dr Gondwe said successful management of exchange rate volatility will need implementation of prudent fiscal and monetary policies within a flexible exchange rate regime.
On the statutory instrument 55 introduced in July 2013, Dr Gondwe said the Central Bank is working with the Zambia Revenue Authority to develop an electronic monitoring system which will enhance information exchange on the flows and assist ZRA to follow up on tax compliance.
He said the system is currently being tested and will be rolled out once the tests are completed by end of June 2014.
“Since the implementation of S1 55, the BoZ has observed that corporates are increasingly becoming more transparent in their disclosures and reporting cross border transactions.”
The Central Bank Governor also revealed that Gross international Reserves have decreased to US$ 2.673 billion at the close of February 2014 from US$ 2.751 billion at end January.
He added, “The decline in reserves was mainly due to foreign exchange sakes aimed at supporting the market and payments related to oil procurement.”
The Kwacha has fallen sharply over the last six months against major international currencies but posted some significant movements in both selling and buying yesterday opening at 5.945-5.965 and closing lower at 5.915-5.935.
Standard Chartered Bank has maintained its outlook for the Kwacha for levels in the region of 5.900-6.000 for the remainder of the week.
President Sata has with immediate effect relieved Hon. Alfredah Kansembe, of her duties as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The President thanked Hon. Kansembe for the services rendered to the country during her tenure of office. This is according to a press statement released to the media by George Chellah special assistant to the president for press and public relations.
On December 30th 2013 during the swearing in of Minister of Home Affairs Ngosa Simbyakula,President Sata openly told off Home Affairs deputy minister Alfredah Kansembe that he was aware that she was planning to resign from her position challenging her that she had joined politics alone and should therefore resign if she wanted.
Meanwhile President Sata has transferred Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Hon. Harry Kalaba to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the same capacity. Hon. Kalaba replaces Hon. Wylbur Simusa, who has been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in the same capacity.
The President has also transferred Hon. Emmanuel Chenda from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. Hon. Chenda replaces Hon. Emerine Kabanshi, who has been transferred to the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health in the same capacity.
Furthermore, the Head of State has moved Hon. Mwansa Kapeya from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services to the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. Hon. Kapeya has been replaced with Hon. Dr. Joseph Katema, who before the reshuffle was Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health.
While Hon. Robert Sichinga has been transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry in the same capacity.
The Head of State says he was confident that the ministers will discharge the functions of their respective offices both to his satisfaction and that of the Zambian people.
Human rights activist Brebner Changala delivering his message
Civil rights activist Brebner Changala has described the rejection of the constitutional motion by Parliament on Tuesday this week as treacherous and an act of state anarchy.
The motion that was moved United Party for National Development (UPND) by Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament (MP) Garry Nkombo to urge government to put in place a roadmap for the enactment of a new constitution, was rejected by 69 to 42 by the House.
And Mr. Changala told Qfm news in an interview that by the rejection of the constitutional motion the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has again proven to be a collection of alleged liars and a group of alleged deceitful men and women.
Mr. Changala has wondered how the ruling PF can at this point of time reject the releasing of the constitution as well as resist a motion to give a roadmap on the enactment of the country’s new constitution when while in opposition it promise to deliver a new constitution in 90 days.
He said this is exactly what he refers to as the abuse of the people when the party in power conducts itself in such a manner by cheating the people.
The Civil rights activist has however commended the opposition MPs for the effort they are making on the demand for the enactment of a new constitution especially that task before them not easy.
And Operation Young Vote (OYV) has observed that with the rejection of the constitutional motion by Parliament it is very clear that the PF Government has no intention whatsoever to facilitate the delivery of a people driven Constitution meant to move the wheels of equity, justice and development for to the Zambian people.
In a statement to Qfm news, OYV Executive Director Guess Nyirenda said the alleged dry debates by the PF MPs and the subsequent shooting down of the constitutional motion is evident that the ruling PF is allegedly in top gear to ensure that Zambians are condemned to poverty.
Mr. Nyirenda said it is sad that the ruling PF has not only gone against the promises on which Zambians elected them into government but that it has also taken a fruitless partisan stance on the Constitution making process.
The OYV Executive Director said his organization is convinced that the only way the Zambians will give themselves their long awaited People Driven Constitution is to stand up in masses.
Accident in which a Rosa Minibus and Truck involved werre involved in a head-on collision on the Kitwe-Ndola Road.
One more victim in the Kitwe Road Traffic Accident involving a Rosa minibus and a truck has died, bringing the death toll to 14.
Wusakile Mine Hospital Medical Manager Ronny Cheelo confirmed the death of the latest accident victim.
The Kitwe-Ndola Highway accident occurred when a 26-seater minibus,registration number ACP 5143, headed to Ndola with passengers on board collided with the truck laden with bags of mealie meal.
The accident happened around 14:00 hours Tuesday at Kamfinsa stream on the stretch where one way of the dual carriageway has been closed to facilitate maintenance, leaving vehicles to share the remaining side.
Meanwhile, another Road Traffic Accident involving a Hino light truck headed in the direction of Kitwe and a truck coming from the opposite direction was witnessed on the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriageway yesterday.
The light truck registration number ALM 6157 collided with a South African-bound truck registration number B8 34APV at Maposa area, a few kilometres away from the spot of the Tuesday fatal accident.
The two vehicles were sharing the remaining side of the closed dual carriageway when they collided. The people on board escaped unhurt.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Stanford Msichili has called on the contractor doing the rehabitation of the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriage to speed up the works to curb fatalities being recorded on the highway.
Mr Msichili who on Tuesday visited the scene of the accident said the accident could have been avoided had part
of the dual carriageway been open to traffic flow.
Government says Civil Society organisations are formed by people who have failed to make ends meet. Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said this in Kitwe when he graced the Youth Day commemoration activities held at the Kitwe Playing Fields (KPF) under the theme ‘Zambia at 50, promoting mainstream for sustainable national
development’.
“People just rise one day and they form an organisation and they call it a civil society organisation for the purposes of living, most likely they have failed to make ends meet, they have never had anything that has made a contribution to the development of Zambia and probably this group they have formed is driven by external interest who provide the funding for them and then they think that only they themselves are entitled to have a view on Zambia,” Mr Chikwanda said.
He said it is morally unacceptable for a few civil society organisations to assume the role of constitution making on behalf of all Zambians.
Mr. Chikwanda said the PF government will not leave the role of enacting a new constitution to a few NGOs.
Mr Chikwanda said Government has a moral duty to play an active role in arriving at the next constitution.
He further said President Sata just like any other citizens of Zambia has an opinion on how best the process should be handled.
Mr Chikwanda has accused some NGOs pushing for the enactment of the new constitution of serving unknown foreign interests.
“Let me say this, Zambia is a common property for all of us, a child born a few minutes ago has the same stake in Zambia as President Sata. We are all stakeholders, therefore every Zambian is entitled to a view about the way Zambia is governed,” Mr Chikwanda said.
He added, “We know that people would be entitled to views about the constitution but we do not accept that a few Zambians who have never even come to the electorate to seek a mandate should be allocated the right to speak for Zambians, they make themselves synonymous with the Zambians. It is morally unacceptable and implausible that a few individuals allocate themselves the right to speak for Zambians.”
Mr.Alexander Chikwanda also said said there is need to empower youths with life survival skills such as carpentry and farming if the country is to benefit from them in terms of national and social development.Mr Chikwanda said Government would furnish the youths with the necessary tools that would help them develop into productive citizens
for them to contribute to national development.
Youth from ActionAid leaving Lusaka Central Police shortly after release.they were arrested for wearing T-Shirts demanding for a new constitution
All the 42 youths that were picked up by police in Lusaka for wearing T-shirts demanding for a new constitution during Youth day celebrations have been charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
Police spokesperson Charity Chanda however said the youths have all been released after being warned severely.
She also clarified that not all the 42 youths that were picked from Freedom Statue are from Action Aid as claimed.
Ms Chanda said police were picking youths that had placards and wearing T-shirts bearing the message calling for the release of the new constitution.
[pullquote]This action cast a serious indication that the PF wants to criminalize the calls to demand for a new constitution by the citizens[/pullquote]
Some of the messages on the T-shirts read” Give us a constitution now”.
Police confiscated all the T-shirts and placards from the youths.
But Action Aid Zambia Executive Director Pamela Chisanga has expressed shock that Police could detain innocent youths for demanding for a new constitution.
Ms. Chisanga said the Youths from Action Aid were peacefully marching alongside their colleagues from other organisations at the Freedom Statue when they were stopped and taken to Lusaka Central Police.
Meanwhile, Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali has condemned in the strongest terms possible the Police for arresting the youths who were wearing T-shirts with the messages demanding for the new Constitution.
Mr Tayali charged that the police action is a violation of human rights and Freedom of Expression.
“We are very disappointed, as an organization because we actually encouraged youths to be part of the events as a sign of unity and respect for those youths who fought for our Nation. We find it very strange that the Police decided to arrest the youth conveying a message through their regalia just like those from the ruling party PF. Worse off the youths from the ruling party took town center by storm singing and drinking,” he said.
Mr Tayali said, “This action cast a serious indication that the PF wants to criminalize the calls to demand for a new constitution by the citizens. This is an intimidation of citizens from demanding for their aspirations. These are signs of bad governance which the PF should be avoiding at all cost lest they are judged harshly by Zambians. We hope and pray that such an action of arresting youths on their day, or indeed any National event will not happen again.”
Youths from ActionAid calling their friends and family shortly after release from Lusaka Central PoliceYouths from ActionAid heading to their bus after release from Lusaka Central Policeouths from ActionAid boarding their bus shortly after release from Lusaka Central Police
Christopher Katongo Golden Arrows debut was an anti-climax on a forgettable Wednesday evening overall in a 2-1 home defeat to Mpumalanga Black Aces.
The under-fire Zambia captain joined Golden Arrows last week on a reportedly four month deal after seeing out his three-year deal with Chinese side Henan Jianye last October.
However, Katongo’s debut was marred even further when his compatriot Joseph Musonda scored an own-goal in the 26th minute to give Black Aces a 1-0 lead into the break.
Katongo started the match before he was substituted in the 56th and replaced by Namibian Rudolf Bester.
And no sooner than Katongo was substituted, than Bester scored Arrows’ face-saver.
The night also saw striker Festus Mbewe continue to misfire ever since joining Arrows on a six month deal from Nkana in the January transfer window.
Mbewe was eventually substituted in the 67th minute as Arrows remain rooted at the bottom of the PSL table on 13 points with ten games left to play.
Meanwhile, Clifford Mulenga came on in the 90th minute for Black Aces after replacing Nigerian and ex-Pirates midfielder Onyekachi Okonkwo.
Black Aces are 10th on 27 points following that away win.
