🇿🇲 BRIEFING | European Parliament demands independent Kafwaya probe, presses Zambia over post-election arrests
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution raising serious concerns over Zambia’s post-election environment and calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the August 14 security operation in which former Cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was fatally shot.
Released Thursday, the resolution, formally titled “Post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya”, passed on Thursday by an overwhelming 562 votes to one, with 33 abstentions.
The Parliament “takes note of the election results” while expressing serious concern over Kafwaya’s death. It calls on Zambian authorities to “swiftly produce clear evidence” supporting the treason charges against opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu, stressing that both must receive a fair trial and adequate legal protection.
On Kafwaya, European lawmakers said security operations should be proportionate and called for “an independent and transparent investigation” into the operation which resulted in his death. Kafwaya was killed during an August 14 security operation at a Lusaka property linked to Mundubile.
Zambian authorities have maintained that the operation was connected to alleged illegal weapons and a suspected plot against the State, allegations which remain subject to investigation and criminal proceedings.
The resolution also draws heavily from the European Union Election Observation Mission, which described polling day as calm and competitive but subsequently raised concerns about incidents and procedural weaknesses during counting and tabulation.
Parliament called on Government to “swiftly investigate the serious incidents and irregularities” identified during the process and implement the mission’s recommendations to strengthen public confidence.
European lawmakers further expressed concern about what the resolution describes as a “shrinking of civil space in Zambia”, while urging political actors to pursue grievances peacefully and through established legal procedures
Significantly, the resolution does not reject Hakainde Hichilema’s declared re-election or declare a different winner. It explicitly takes note of the election result while directing its strongest demands towards investigation, due process and institutional accountability.
The vote represents one of the strongest institutional expressions of international concern over Zambia’s post-election developments since the August 13 election.
At the same time, Parliament reaffirmed the European Union’s “longstanding partnership with Zambia” and its support for “a democratic, peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the country.”
The People’s Brief | Ollus R. Ndomu
If security officers knocked on your door. And instead stead of peacefully responding, you respond with an AK47. You are, not just a plain idiot, but a bulali faken idiot if you think the security officers will not respond in kind. The same EU countries follow the same standard protocol when their security wings visit anyone’s residence. Why should there be “an investigation” here in Zambia?? A Zambia army officer was wounded in the exchange of fire. His life and the life of any of the officers who visited the Kabulonga residence matter. As much as the life of the deceased.
If you bear arms against a democratically elected government, they will invariably respond in kind. No one has special rights or privaleges to commit treason. There are legal and peaceful avenues to attain power.
Let those charged with treason go through the court process. Here in Zambia. Not in the EU. Not on social media. In fact the suspects should welcome the opportunity to clear their names. But it seems all this agitation and discomfort is because they know they are guilty and are afraid to be exposed by the courts. Just man up and grow some balls. One of the suspects, now a fugitive, even declared that they are ready to kill, or be killed. Bring it on.
Looking at the framing of the accusation by the EU parliamentary team it is evident that everything parroted is exactly what we have been hearing from the opposition.
It is therefore surprising that upon receiving only one side of the opposition’s story the whole of the EU Parliament has concluded that what they have been provided is accurate information. They have already determined a position without first taking a logical step of inquiring from the government on their side of the story.
By siding with one party in this case the opposition they have failed the test of being neutral but have revealed openly that they have vested interest in a preferred candidate that being the opposition.
In a time where geopolitics is concerned groupings that have failed to influence governments to tilt towards them can do anything to remove such obstacles.
However, it is time to relax. He that speaks loudest does not necessarily have the final say. Facts have a way of humbling even the most stubborn person.
It is also an eye opener to government to perceive that certain people can not be trusted. On one hand they request for peace and dialogue while on the other hand the are destroying you through every avenue possible with lies.
I can only ask that government responds with clarity and objectivity by demonstrating that this whole one side approach os ill conceived and in bad faith.
You can not claim.to be neutral and at the same time begin your illogical accusations with facts only from one side. We can see where your inclination lies and hence call you out to be objective and neutral.
You have a country representative in Zambia. What interaction has he had with the Zambian authorities and what the unsatisfactory responses that have caused you to recite the narrative pf the opposition almost word for word. No come out with clean hands.
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