Police cancel UPND rally

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 12:44:49 +0000

By MUKOSELA KASALWE

THE Lusaka police command has cancelled both a UPND planned demonstration and a Kanyama rally, citing security concerns.

Lusaka police commissioner Nelson Phiri has since advised the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), if not satisfied with advice given by the police, to appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo as provided for under the law.

But the UPND have insisted that the rally would go ahead as planned, saying that they had organised enough marshals to maintain law and order during the event.

UPND youth national spokesperson Gilbert Liswaniso said nothing would stand in the way of the opposition party to hold their rally.

According to a letter dated March 24, 2017, addressed to UPND Lusaka Province chairman Bob Sakahilu and copied to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Phiri acknowledged having received the two notices but that due to the unstable security situation in Lusaka the party had been advised that both events should not go ahead.

“Due to the unstable security situation in the city we advise you not to go ahead with your intentions.

‘‘You may appeal to the minister as provided for in the law if you are not satisfied with our advice,’’ Mr Phiri said.

Dr Sakahilu had written the police commanding officer to advise that the UPND intended to hold a rally on April 2 for party president Hakainde Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and senior members to address Lusaka residents on various national issues as well as to hold a demonstration on April 5, 2017.

After applying for permits, Patriotic Front (PF) Lusaka Province chairman Kennedy Kamba warned that there would be anarchy if the police permitted the UPND to go ahead with their planned rally and demonstration because they have evidently refused to recongise President Edgar Lungu as duly elected Head of State.

Mr. Kamba vowed that the PF youths in Lusaka would never allow the UPND to hold the rally or demonstration anywhere unless outside Lusaka.

But Dr Sakahilu explained that the intention of holding a rally was for the party to address Lusaka residents on various national issues and to thank the electorate who voted for the party in the last general election.

“We write to notify you that the UPND President, Vice President and other senior members of the party, will be holding a public rally to address Lusaka residents on many national issues and to thank them for voting for UPND resoundingly during the last general elections,” he said.

He said that as was the custom the UPND would provide marshals to assist with crowd control.