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DEMOCRATIC SPACE SHRINKING, SAYS JUBILEE COALITION

By NATION REPORTER

THE detaining and harassment of protesting opposition leaders is evidence of the shrinking democratic space under the UPND administration, Zambia Jubilee Coalition (ZJC) Secretary-General Kwaela Mwanza has said.

Mr Mwanza said it was unfortunate that the UPND administration was arresting opposition leaders under the guise of the Public Order Act which they condemned while in opposition. “The arrest of EFF leader Kasoma Mwenda for a staging a peaceful protest is a sign of the shrinking democratic space,” Mr Mwanza said.

He said it was too early for the UPND administration to start arresting opposition leaders for staging a peaceful protest. Meanwhile, Alliance for Community Action (ACA) Executive Director Laura Miti said the Public Order Act is meant to prevent crime not to protect those in power.

 Ms Miti said it was important to look at the Public Order Act to guarantee people’s rights and freedoms “Public order policing is meant to prevent crime and not protecting sensibility of those in power,” she said.

Ms Miti said the Public Order Act should be amended to clear whatever confuses the police. “The police has never successfully prosecuted any case relating to the Public Order Act and issues that confuse them should worked on,” Mr Mwanza said.

He said the Act is there to ensure that no one is injured and property is damaged. Ms Miti said the police have never successfully prosecuted a case regarding the POA.

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