By SILUMESI MALUMO
THE Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) has notified Lusaka Police Commissioner that it will be conducting a peaceful protest against the high cost of living in Zambia.
PeP president, Sean Tembo said he has written to the police in accordance with the provisions of section 5 subsection 4 of the Public Order Act 113 of laws of Zambia.
He said the protest is planned to be held next week on Wednesday April 27, 2022.
“The protesters will march peacefully from Arcades bus station to Cairo Road and then Church road to Alick NKhata to Thabo Mbeki and back to Acardes starting at 10:00hours,” he said.
He has also appealed to other political parties to be part of the planned protest.
“I am of the considered view that this protest must be joined by all opposition political parties, actually including the ruling party members because they are not spared from these economic hardships.
In this regard I am appealing to all party Presidents to join this demonstration so that the message is sent loud and clear that our people are suffering.
“Hence the increase in all sorts of crime levels. The new dawn government has told be told in no uncertain terms that the IMF trajectory is a dead end which must be abandoned right now,” he said.
The opposition leader said during the same protest there will be calls for President Hakainde Hichilema to cut salaries and allowances for ministers by half so that they can identify with the suffering of the people who put them in office.
Meanwhile Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga has confirmed that the police has received the notification of the planned protest.
Mr Hamoonga said the police was impressed that the PEP president has used the right channel to communicate over the protest. In an interview, he said the police would in due course respond to the notification.
“I can confirm that we have received the letter from Mr Tembo over the planned protest. And I can assure you that we shall soon respond to the matter at hand,” he said.
