CSOs DEMAND RELEASE

By NATION REPORTER THE Consortium of Civil Society Organisation on Governance and Constitutionalism has called for the release of detainees while urging authorities to uphold the rule of law. Consortium chairperson Isaac Mwanza said the organisation had called for detainees to be released in cases where continued detention was not legally justified. Mr Mwanza welcomed recent court decisions granting bail to some people who had been detained without trial, saying the development was consistent with the rule of law. “The consortium’s position is that due process should be followed in dealing with people facing allegations, including ensuring that those eligible for bail were not kept in detention unnecessarily,” he said. Mr Mwanza also reminded the police and courts of President Hakainde Hichilema’s stated position in support of bail for bailable offences and the need for cases to be brought to trial without unnecessary delays. He said the call for the release of detainees should not be interpreted as opposition to the justice system, but as a demand for adherence to established legal procedures. Mr Mwanza also said the consortium had not called for the formation of a Government of National Unity following the August 13 general elections. He said President Hichilema had won the election with 60 percent of the vote according to results announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia while the consortium’s Parallel Vote Tabulation had confirmed the outcome. “President Hichilema’s call for national unity, reconciliation and healing should be embraced by both winners and losers of the election,” Mr Mwanza said. He said political differences should be managed through coexistence while respecting the rule of law and democratic institution

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CSOs DEMAND RELEASE