Serpent in Kambwili’s cell!

By KALOBWE BWALYA 

The alleged discovery of a snake in the cell where Mr Kambwili is being detained is a violation of his rights to be treated in a humane way as a suspect, Leader of the Opposition Brian Mundubile has charged.

And Nevers Mumba has condemned the arrest of Mr Kambwili, describing it as unfortunate which would only serve to reverse the good strides the country has so far made in returning to normalcy, respect for the rule of law, and the rejection of the unnecessary targeting of political opponents. 

Mr Mundubile, the Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate said the alleged placement of a serpent in Mr Kambwili’s cell was meant to intimidate opponents as well as torture and inflict inhumane treatment on suspects.

Mr Mundubile has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to immediately direct the police stop human rights violations against opposition leaders. 

Commenting on the arrest of Chishimba Kambwili, Mr Mundubile said the pattern had emerged where police were now being used as instruments of political persecution. 

And Dr Mumba, the New Hope Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) president has urged the Police Service to give Mr Kambwili police bond and not to take Zambia back in reverse to politics that were rejected by Zambians.

Meanwhile, Socialist Party president Fred Mmembe has described ludicrous for the police to arrest and detain Mr Kambwili for unlawful assembly after some youths marched to his residence to denounce the UPND government over the continued rise in fuel and mealie meal prices.

Dr M’membe wondered what type of liberal democrats the new dawn were purporting to be when the leadership was ever arresting and detaining citizens and denying them bond.

Dr M’membe said it was surprising that the United States was eulogiising and exalting President Hakainde Hichilema as a democrat yet the head of State was not a believer in the rule of law.

He stated that the government of President Hichilema and the UPND, who claimed to be liberal democrats were further diminishing the enjoyment of the fundamental rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Dr M’membe said President Hichilema and the UPND were increasingly becoming more and more repressive, as they had embarked on increasing restrictions on the fundamental rights of citizens and violating international human rights standards. 

“But while all these repressive practices are going on in Zambia, the United States and its European partners are dead silent. We demand the immediate release of Mr Kambwili and his colleagues,” Dr M’membe said.