Edgar Lungu challenged

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:14:30 +0000

UPND on the Copperbelt has described as irresponsible and dictatorial instructions by Home Affairs minister Edgar Lungu to bar every one that was summoned at the police not to be escorted by cadres and other sympathizers except their lawyers.

Provincial spokesman Kennedy Kalunga said that the PF government must clearly understand that Zambia was a democratic country and not an era of party participatory democracy like was the case in UNIP days.

Mr Kalunga said he expected the Minister to understand it better since he was a lawyer that   only the law could  ban or allow  that, adding that dictatorial statements would not be allowed in Zambia.

“Zambia does not belong to Lungu and his policemen but it belongs to Zambians and Zambians should be left to enjoy freedom of association and assembly without being threatened with arrests.

He said it would be difficult for the cadres to be banned as that would result into uncontrolled confusions, adding that even the PF used to do the same, when they were in the opposition.

“This government has no choice because whether they like it or not they have to respect the will of the Zambian people because what is happening is not for those in government but for the Zambian people,” he said.

The government has with immediate effect banned political party cadres from escorting their leaders when they were appearing for questioning at any police station.

This follows the fracas that characterised UPND cadres at woodlands police station where a police officer was assaulted by the suspected UPND cadre at the time their Party president Hakainde Hichilema was summoned for questioning.

And Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu directed police to investigate thoroughly and bring to book suspected UPND cadres who assaulted a police officer Adam Banda at Woodlands police station.

Mr Lungu feared that if the escort by party cadres was not banned, it could be a recipe for  unruly behaviour and anarchy.

He warned that his ministry would not take things lightly or kindly with anybody who interfered with the operations of police officers in the course of their duties.

The police officers had been on record of not doing their work professionally, thereby creating and perpetrating violence in some situations.

UPND on the Copperbelt has described as irresponsible and dictatorial instructions by Home Affairs minister Edgar Lungu to bar every one that was summoned at the police not to be escorted by cadres and other sympathizers except their lawyers.

Provincial spokesman Kennedy Kalunga said that the PF government must clearly understand that Zambia was a democratic country and not an era of party participatory democracy like was the case in UNIP days.

Mr Kalunga said he expected the Minister to understand it better since he was a lawyer that   only the law could  ban or allow  that, adding that dictatorial statements would not be allowed in Zambia.

“Zambia does not belong to Lungu and his policemen but it belongs to Zambians and Zambians should be left to enjoy freedom of association and assembly without being threatened with arrests.

He said it would be difficult for the cadres to be banned as that would result into uncontrolled confusions, adding that even the PF used to do the same, when they were in the opposition.

“This government has no choice because whether they like it or not they have to respect the will of the Zambian people because what is happening is not for those in government but for the Zambian people,” he said.

The government has with immediate effect banned political party cadres from escorting their leaders when they were appearing for questioning at any police station.

This follows the fracas that characterised UPND cadres at woodlands police station where a police officer was assaulted by the suspected UPND cadre at the time their Party president Hakainde Hichilema was summoned for questioning.

And Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu directed police to investigate thoroughly and bring to book suspected UPND cadres who assaulted a police officer Adam Banda at Woodlands police station.

Mr Lungu feared that if the escort by party cadres was not banned, it could be a recipe for  unruly behaviour and anarchy.

He warned that his ministry would not take things lightly or kindly with anybody who interfered with the operations of police officers in the course of their duties.

The police officers had been on record of not doing their work professionally, thereby creating and perpetrating violence in some situations.

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