Fri, 20 Jan 2017 11:17:23 +0000
By Bennie Mundado
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary general Davies Mwila must be arrested for inciting and promoting illegality by telling cadres to take charge of the allocation of plots and control of bus stations, the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has charged.
Commenting on a statement attributed to Mr. Mwila as having instructed PF members in Kabwe to use their positions to get land and control bus stations, FDD spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said it was unbelievable that Mr. Mwila, who is a former lawmaker and Minister of Home Affairs, would sink so low as to fan anarchy in the country.
Mr. Mwanza said Mr. Mwila’s statement bordered on sedition and inciting lawlessness which threatened national security and insisted Mr. Mwila should be caged for his statement as it was contrary to the laws of the country.
He said Mr. Mwila’s statement had just confirmed what his party already knew that some PF cadres and officials had forcibly taken over the running of markets and bus stations.
“Mr. Mwila’s statement borders on sedition and inciting lawlessness as well as subversion of authority and is a recipe for anarchy, public nuisance, and a serious threat to the peace and stability of our country. It is unbelievable that the secretary general of the ruling party and a former lawmaker can be issuing such criminal instructions inciting civil disorder against lawful authority.
“Sections 57, 92 and 101 of Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia clearly states that any person who utters any seditious words is guilty and liable to imprisonment for two years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand penalty units or both. Any person who excites disaffection against or undermines lawful authority is liable for criminal prosecution. Inciting lawlessness is a criminal offence that attracts a jail sentence,” Mr. Mwanza said.
He said due to such unnecessary interference from cadres as prescribed by Mr. Mwila, local authorities had failed to provide services to the public because income generating activities were wrestled from them and put in the hands of cadres.
“Today our local authorities are failing to perform their constitutional duties of providing goods and services such as clean water, sanitation, proper drainages, garbage collection, social amenities and so on because the taxes and levies that they rely upon to provide these goods and social services are actually being collected and shared by cadres and their officials.
“We challenge the Zambia Police to arrest Mr. Mwila for inciting lawlessness and civil disorder in our country. The police have in their possession the audio and video evidence of what Mr Mwila said and there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for them to be dragging their feet. This thuggish behaviour must be punished as it is criminal and a recipe for civil disorder,” he said.
