ALLOW OPPOSITION TO HOLD RALLIES – FR MUKOSA
Director of Dignitatis Humanae Fr. Andrew Chewe Mukosa says the Government should stop abusing the Public Order Act by denying opposition political parties a chance to hold public rallies.
Police have denied the notice by the Socialist Party (SP) to hold a public Rally in Kitwe this Saturday citing security concerns and insufficient manpower.
Police recently blocked the Patriotic Front party from holding a Rally in Lusaka’s Zingalume ‘due to lack of manpower’ and further stopped a Church gathering in Ndola where former President Edgar Lungu was supposed to appear.
Fr. Mukosa of St. Joseph Mission in Kalumbwa, Lufwanyama, said there is no anarchy in the country to warrant a ban on public rallies.
He said freedom of assembly must be respected as it is enshrined in the Republican Constitution.
“The Public Order Act can only be invoked when there is disorder and anarchy in a state. I don’t see why this act should be abused. People should hold meetings anywhere. Why should the government that is doing the right thing be so jittery and scared of people holding meetings? I would like to appeal to our President Hakainde Hichilema to do better on this matter,” Fr. Mukosa said.
“How do you deny parties like PF and the Socialist Party permits to hold rallies? Why are these people in UPND worried about people holding meetings? It is because they are not working. I urge them to start delivering instead of prohibiting other parties from assembling,” said the Social Teacher.
Fr. Mukosa challenged the Government to focus on enhancing food security, agriculture sector and job creation.