Allow MPs to protest – Liswaniso

By NATION REPORTER
GILBERT Liswaniso has asked the Zambia Police and other law enforcement agencies to allow the more than 50 Members of Parliament to protest against the Democracy Summit which is scheduled to take place from today to tomorrow.
But Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba has warned would-be protesters that the police shall not tolerate individuals planning to cause anarchy in the country.
Mr Liswaniso, the UPND national youth chairman says the police should allow the PF parliamentarians planning to protest against the Democracy Summit to go ahead but without attempts to disrupt the conference.
Mr Lwisaniso’s call to the police not to arrest the MPs is in direct conflict with the warning by Mr Jack Mwiimbu, the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security that those who plan protests against the Democracy Summit shall be arrested.
The UPND youth strongman said it was the democratic rights of the MPs and their constituents to remonstration against the summit but that the opposition lawmakers should know that the Summit was going to proceed regardless of their protest.
He claimed that the PF as a political organisation did not believe in democracy the reason it was willing to sabotage the summit by all means possible.
Mr Liswaniso accused the former ruling party of having adopted dictatorial tendencies while in power but that President Hakainde Hichilema had restored democracy and the police should therefore not arrest the protesters.
He said Mr. Hichilema has brought freedoms and that was why Zambia had been selected to co-host the Democracy Summit because of the country’s democratic credentials.
Zambian will co-host the Summit for Democracy on March 29 and 30 with the United States, Costa-rica Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.
Meanwhile Party for National Unity and Progress Nalolo MP, Imanga Wamunyina said in as much as the Summit for Democracy was welcome the government has not done much in giving information of what this Summit brings to the table.