Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:04:04 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THERE is need for those in authority to wait until investigations have been conducted and concluded by the police on the spate of arson cases before considering the imposition of a state of emergency, Rainbow Party leader Wynter Kabimba has said.
In an interview, Mr Kabimba said there was no threat to national security in Zambia to warrant a declaration of a state of emergency.
“There is need for those in authority to wait until investigations have been conducted and concluded by the police on the spate of arson activities before considering the state of emergency,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said he doubted that there was any serious acts in Zambia that threatened national security to warrant a state of emergency.
“I don’t think that there is a situation now obtaining which is a threat to the security of the nation that would warrant declaring a state of emergency whether in one part of the country or in the whole country,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said police needed to first establish who was responsible for those suspected arson cases before a state of emergency could be considered.
“I saw the one in Kabwe where the minister for Central Province was directing the police to find the culprits. How do you know that there are culprits when investigations are still being conducted? How do you know if this may just be a natural cause?” he asked.
However, National Revolution Party (NRP) president Cozmo Mumba last week called on President Edgar Lungu to declare a state of emergency as a way of bringing the escalating levels of lawlessness in the country to an end. Dr. Mumba told the Daily Nation in an interview that the only answer to the high levels of lawlessness was for President Lungu to declare a state of emergency.
And President Lungu warned recently that he would declare a state of emergency in areas where there was trouble if he was pushed to the wall.
Addressing Livingstone residents shortly after arriving at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport last week, President Lungu said those setting public buildings ablaze were pushing him to consider declaring a state of emergency.
