NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER, I WILL CHALLENGE GARY NKOMBO, VOWS MOONGA

Mazabuka Central Constituency Aspiring Member of Parliament Kizzy Moonga says he takes exception to a statement by some women in UPND endorsing incumbent Gary Nkombo as the preferred candidate for the seat in the 2021 General Elections.

Byta FM Staffer Evans Liyali reported earlier last week from Mazabuka that UPND Constituency Chairlady Eli Mutinta gave the endorsement when the party received over 60 defectors from the Patriotic Front (PF).

Mutinta advised those seeking to challenge Nkombo to wait for their time.

She says that Nkombo is a pillar in UPND and represents the people of Mazabuka effectively hence the need for another mandate.

In response, Nkombo welcomed the endorsement and described it as a Christmas gift.

He, however says that his candidature is still subject to the entire adoption process stressing that an endorsement is an adoption.

But Moonga, who is also a former Bank of Zambia Assistant Procurement Manager, says the statement by the Chairlady is misleading and does not represent the views of people in the constituency.

“This statement is not only illusory but highly misleading to the people of Mazabuka Central Constituency as the handful of people who attended the function at which this pronouncement was made do not, in any way represent the views of the people,” remarks Moonga.

He adds that the women’s statement was reckless and issued with a view to sway the mindset of the people of Mazabuka central constituency to think that a parliamentary candidate has already been identified and selected.

Moonga (in picture) charges that the directive by the Constituency Chairlady that those wishing to challenge the incumbent MP should stop is an affront to individuals’ right to exercise their democratic rights.

“It is an assault on the UPND intraparty democracy, an act of intimidation and a blatant violation of the constitution of Zambia number 2 of 2016 article 60 (3) (b) which states that A political party shall not engage in or encourage violence or intimidate its members, supporters, opponents or other persons,” says Moonga.

He adds that the incumbent MP has done his best for Mazabuka Central Constituency during the last 15 years but his performance is open to public scrutiny, further pledging not to withdraw his interest to contest.

“…I, therefore, wish to submit that I will defy the call for me to withdraw my candidature.
“I will not withdraw, under whatever circumstances, from exercising my democratic political aspirations in the Mazabuka Central constituency parliamentary election, It is a No Retreat, No Surrender for me,” vows Moonga.

He has also cautioned against any attempt to use corrupt means to adopt a predetermined parliamentary candidate as this will backfire in a very devastating manner.

“The ultimate power does not lay with the small group which adopts parliamentary candidates but the entire constituency electoral college,” counsels Moonga. S

Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo is irresponsible and incompetent to hold the office of Home Affairs Minister. This is according to Kelvin Fube Bwalya, pop[ularly known as KBF.

Speaking on a live Hot FM radio interview show on Friday, Mr Fube called for the dismissal of My Kampoyongo and questioned President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s decision to continue shielding Mr Kampyongo despite a popular view that the Minister had lamentably failed to run such an important ministry.

“Mr President, why are you shielding Kampyongo? What’s the shielding? What is so special about Kampyongo? If you need him, at least do some transfers. Do some reshuffles, and move him to another ministry,” he said.

Mr Bwalya attributed the failure to properly apply the Public Order Act (POA) to the extremely low calibre of the current political leadership.

“But this what we have been accustomed to now because this is the kind of Minister we have. How many times should people be killed before this Minister is fired? He is my young brother, I know him but he is just irresponsible. He is incompetent. He must be fired,” Mr Bwalya said.

KBF who is also a criminal lawyer and renowned political strategist regretted that it was evident that the Home Affairs ministry had become too big for a person of Mr Kampyongo’s calibre, observing that every time a ministerial statement was coming out of Mr. Kampyongo’s mouth, there was alarm and wondered why the nation should always panic every time he speaks.

“Honourable Minister, kwata akamukanwa. Amano yaba mumatwi,” Mr Bwalya advised the Minister.

“The other day, he was talking about foreigners who have come into the country. He has no evidence. He is just talking. He wants to alarm the nation, all the time,” Mr Bwalya said.

Answering to a question on the Public Order Act, Mr Bwalya explained that the POA was a pre-cursor to economic prosperity, adding that the order of the nation and the peace in the nation was always important.

“We cannot just be putting things out there that people must do what they want, there must be order in the nation,” he said.

Mr Bwalya observed that although the POA was a very important piece of legislation, in its current form, it needed a bit of amendment because of the current political dispensation the country finds itself, stressing that there was an urgent need to amend POA to suit the current circumstances.

Mr. Bwalya is of the view that Zambia was currently using an archaic law for modern times and explained that the purpose of the POA was to regulate behaviour in the public so that peace prevailed.

“Now with the protests that you are talking about, for example; name one window pane, one glass that was broken, one public property that was damaged, one car that was damaged by those people that were rioting or protesting, nothing! Why did the Police shoot? Why did they use live ammunition, why? There’s no reason,” he observed.

The POA was an important piece of legislation because it prevails where there are situations of conflict. If two political parties are in the same environment, the Police must know how they are going to deploy the two factions so that there’s peace between those two groups of people and also to know that whatever they are trying to do, there should be peace from other people, meaning collateral people. That should be very important, he explained.

“You as a standby or a passer-by must not be inconvenienced because there’s a political rally somewhere. Let them have their political rallies,” he said.

Mr Bwalya reminded Zambians that the Supreme Court had already ruled on this matter as to how the POA should be applied. He said all people needed to do was just to inform the Police that on this date, they will be having a meeting and ask the Police whether they have enough Police officers to police the area where such a meeting would be held. If not, the Police can advise and give alternative dates when such a meeting can be held and how it can be conducted.

The police would just want to know who the speakers are, how many people are expected to police that area to ensure that peace prevailed.

In terms of economic prosperity, Mr. Bwalya said the POA was also important because it puts people who are not part of politics, who are running businesses and other things so that they should not be interfered with but also that their properties will be protected.

“That’s important. The POA cannot just be thrown away, no. It can be reviewed but right now, we have a Minister who doesn’t even understand what that POA is supposed to be doing. To him, he thinks it’s supposed to be there to suppress the people. The Minister wants people to always live in fear,” he said.

Asked why the PF under the leadership of President Michael Chilufya Sata, the POA was not reviewed, Mr Bwalya said it is the calibre of the people who are in government, reiterating the current poor leadership.

“Please understand me, there’s poor leadership. Some of the people who are in government don’t even understand why this law was made, in the first place. They don’t understand what is in the preamble of this Act. Some of them can read but do not understand it. Understanding is different from reading.

“So if you think you are going to have the same mentality when the Police was a mobile Unit, which was curbing riots in the colonial days, and that’s the same training manual you have at Lilayi today, you are living in the past, change the manual, change the mentality of the Police, engage psychologist, train and retrain the Police and make them understand that things have changed. The population is not the same”.

He said the Zambian population were now free to express themselves and observed that social media was not there in those days.

“So, you can’t hide a lot of things. When the shooting happened, within minutes, the whole country knew what was happening. You think you can hide that? We all saw those police officers arriving. We all saw dead bodies lying around. You think we want to see those pictures, we don’t,” Mr. Bwalya said.

CIC ADMIN LUNDAZI, EASTERN PROVINCE
UPND CHASEFU CONSTITUENCY ASPIRING MP DONATES A VEHICLE TO THE WOMEN FOR WOMEN MOBILISATION AHEAD OF 2021 GENERAL ELECTIONS
02/01/2021
AS HE ASSURRES THE PEOPLE OF CHASEFU CONSTITUENCY BETTER SERVICES SHOULD HE BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY COME 12TH AUGUST 2021

UPND Chasefu constituency Aspiring candidate Mr Lufeyo Ngoma this morning delivered a vehicle to UPND Chasefu constituency women wing as he urges them to work extra hard in order to deliver Chasefu to UPND and President HH.

Mr Ngoma says women and youths are the target as far as winning an election is concern and it is with such background that he has first delivered a vehicle to the women wing and later the youths shall be considered with a strong and reliable vehicle special for mobilisation and other party duties.

“I regard every woman as my mother , my sister or my Aunt that is why I have started by giving mode of Transport to women first so that the women wing will be able to move around and visit our 10 wards in Chasefu constituency” Ngoma said.

Speaking at the same function, UPND Chasefu constituency chairman Mr Right Kaunda said as a constituency they were humbled by the gesture from the UPND aspirant and that the vehicle shall be put to good use in order to deliver the best for the mighty UPND and President HH.

And UPND Chasefu constituency chairlady Mrs Ana Zimba said the vehicle to the women wing is a clear indication that Hon Ngoma has a heart for women wing and that in Chasefu there shall be a massive women mobilisation.

“Adada Ngoma tamuongani pachitemwa chinu pakuganizira ba zimai ndipo tioneskeskenge kuti tasebeza mwakukwana( we thank you Mr Ngoma for caring about women and we shall make sure we deliver Chasefu to our party UPND)” Mrs Zimba added in her Tumbuka language.

And speaking at the same function, UPND Chasefu constituency vice chairlady Mrs Ngwira said women in the constituency have been given an opportunity to work hard and assured Mr Ngoma that come August UPND will have its share.

Meanwhile UPND Chasefu constituency youth chairman Mr Christopher Gondwe said on behalf of the youths and women, it was so amazing that finally Chasefu has a strong and community based UPND candidate who will help to mobilise the party . Mr Gondwe thanked Mr Ngoma for his timely response to the women affairs.

And Mr Ngoma said women should not be worried about fuel and servicing of the vehicle because he will always be available for such services and that the vehicle should work to its intended purposes and asked the leadership to guard the vehicle jealous against enemies of peace.

Youths and women Braved the rains to receive the vehicle and UPND aspirant Mr Ngoma said he believes in working hard and if the women will be able to deliver the best he will have no option but to support them more.

Mr Ngoma is in the constituency visitation to see the party structures from ward to constituency level.
Chasefu constituency is in the Eastern province of Zambia along Lundazi-Chama road.
@UPND MEDIA

I’ll not topple HH – Nkombo

Mr Nkombo’s denial follows several claims by UPND top officials, among them former Western Province chairperson Njamba Musangu, that the Mazabuka Member of Parliament was making moves to oust Mr Hichilema at the party’s general conference set for January 12.

By PETER SICHALI
GARY Nkombo says he has no intentions of challenging Haikande Hichilema for the UPND presidency, claiming those saying he wanted to topple him were up to no good.
Mr Nkombo’s denial follows several claims by UPND top officials, among them former Western Province chairperson Njamba Musangu, that the Mazabuka Member of Parliament was making moves to oust Mr Hichilema at the party’s general conference set for January 12.
However, Mr Nkombo, who is UPND national chairperson for elections, has rubbished the claims that he wants to challenge Mr Hichilema.

Mr Nkombo also said there is no secret mission to get rid of UPND members who defected from other political parties as claimed by Mr Njamba.
He said in an interview that the allegations were of no substance.
Mr Nkombo said he had no intentions of challenging Mr Hichilema at the forthcoming national convention, adding that such speculations were meant to distract members from real issues.

“There is no substance in claims that I want to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema and that of getting rid of people from other political parties,” he said.

Mr Njamba earlier said there was no democracy in the UPND and the party had embarked on a campaign to get rid of members who had joined it from other parties.
He described the just ended UPND Western Province intraparty elections a sham, putting the blame on Mr Nkombo.

“Now that they think the party is forming Government next year they want to get rid of all those that came from other political parties including PF and MMD,” Mr Njamba said.
He said PF provincial elections were credible, free and fair compared to those of UPND.
Mr Njamba said it would not be right for UPND to use people from other parties as ladders and later dump them like diapers.

He had accused Mr Nkombo of suppressing democracy in the province so that he could have his puppets to support him at the national convention.

Meanwhile, Mr Njamba said UPND national women’s chairlady and the incoming provincial chairperson of segregation based on tribe.
He said the two are getting rid of Nkoyas and Luvales from the party

Pilato wrote…

2020- WHAT A YEAR

2020 has been a very difficult year for many but also a good year for some. Whatever it was, we all have reasons to be grateful that we made it to this end.

For the many young people of this country, I would like all of us to reflect and ask ourselves, what gift did we offer to our beautiful country? What did we do to make this country a better place for ourselves next year? Are we able to say, it will be a great year because of what we did OR we are just hoping that it will just be a good year?

As young people we must remind ourselves that we have so much power that we can redesign and redefine ourselves and influence the complexion of this country. We can only do so if we generously contribute to the debates and discussions on issues of this country. If you have a talent, use it to create a society where your dreams and the dreams of those around you can come to life. Your unexpressed ideas have no impact on life. If you can make music, make it. Contribute to creating a better Zambia.

2021 is a year for elections, my urge to young people is dont sell yourself cheaply. Politicians will come to you this year desperately to seek for your vote. Instead of asking them for money for beer, remember we live in a country with its young people sitting under a tree for a classroom in the rural areas. When they offer you alcohol, remember we still have hospitals that do not have modern medical equipment and drugs for the public. Remember this beautiful humble country in your bargain. As you negotiate for your personal benefit ask what are they doing for the good of the country. Remember that if this country collapses, nothing personal will remain.

It is my prayer and hope that we will be more united and purposeful this year. We will refuse to be divided for any reason and that we will stand up for this country and it’s people.

I write this with a deep conviction that we do have a great country and wealthy space in this beautiful continent of Africa.

By Sikaile Sikaile.

LESSONS FOR COPS FROM OPERATION, “CALL OUT”.;OUR PREMINARY INVESTIGATIONS IN THE KILLINGS DEMANDS THAT KAMPYONGO, KANGANJA, LUSAMBO AND ESTHER KATONGO MUST BE FIRED

Fellow country men and women, we want to express our displeasure over the PF government through president Edgar Chagwa Lungu failure to give the country the report about the Wednesday massacres which claimed two lives. However, as defender of human rights and good governance, we have not just sat idle waiting for this famous report which president Edgar Lungu failed to avail the nation with on Monday. We have done our preliminary investigations and we will address some of our initial findings live on our page today. This is a reminder and warning to all overzealous cops and other security wings like ZAF who have chosen to be used by politicians.But, remember that politicians comes and go yet, Zambia will remain Zambia.Some will involve you in date games, and the Choice is all yours to stand on the right side with citizens or commit a heinous crime in exchange for a promotion which you may not even get if the job is poorly done like the Wednesday killings.

Commissioner Phiri Nelson left his home that Wednesday. He was coming to the office to execute a political game. The game was simple, kill two members of the opposition who will offer solidarity so the next group will think twice to ever come out to give solidarity to any opposition leader.The plan was so well organized to an extent that the Zambia Air Force was covering the sky. The target could have been bigger than what they ended up with. Or how does one explain the chopper that kept circling HH’s residence? In the video that was circulating on social media. Mr Nelson Phiri, instead of Manning a command post, he decided to be on the ground to coordinate operation ” CALL OUT “. The reason was simple, show the appointing authority how hardworking he is and with hope to be made IG sooner.
In real operations of crowd control, the commissioner comes in the last phase of crowd management, that is if his subordinates fail to stop a riot. Him appeared just in first phase.

Whatever his objective was, he started blocking vehicles for people who were responding to a police call out.When he was doing all this, Air force was giving him air support. The target could have been bigger, I repeat. If these guys managed to kill only two people from UPND camp the mission would have been successful. They would have unleashed the Ntewewes, Mumbi Phiri, Chilufya Tayali, Christians for Lungu etc and hipped the blame on HH if he himself was not a second or first target. unfortunately for them, they killed a man who was drinking a cup of tea. No wonder I call Nsama Nsama as our modern day Jesus Christ. His death has exposed the excesses of the police’s use of force and also the presence of cadres in the service. His going to have a cup of tea and be served that tea, was clear testament of how peaceful the UPND sympathisers were.People from within the premises could afford to drink coffee as CCTV video footages clearly shows.When the PF went into the second phase of their plan and brought in Nakachinda and company, the President himself to smear HH and his cadres. The people started to ask about the man who was taking a cup of coffee. The narrative became so difficult to sustain to an extent that the ruling government abandoned it.

Here now is a lesson for cops, if you play politics with law enforcement. You will be a Darling only for politicians so long you meet their political Agenda.But, the moment they are exposed, they will leave you out to hang and dry like an underwear in the dry season.
Up to now I wonder what blame is being hipped on Nelson Phiri behind the the scenes. May be they are asking, why did you order the killing of a prosecutor? Things like that. But we are update to date and since president Edgar Lungu doesn’t want to speak the truth about these killings we will inform you the citizenry so that you make a wise decision this year.Law enforcement officers should learn from the previous Darlings of the regime, such as General Chimense. After all they did for the people in power. Today they are left out to hang and dry.

1.In our investigations it was established that Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo, Lusaka province Minister Bownman Lusambo, inspector General of police Kakoma
Kanganja, Lusaka commissioner Nelson Phiri and others agreed in a meeting held before HH appeared to use maximum force on his supporters.The sobber question to President Edgar Lungu is that who authorized these people to use maximum force against unarmed civilians? And why these people are still occupying public offices and some promoted? Do you want them to plan more losses of lives against Zambians or what? Answer the nation Mr President.

2.Our investigations also shows that bullets were not signed for what masterminders called personal security cover, but the riffles were all signed for.Our question to president EdgarLungu is that are you really telling the nation that you are not aware of this operation and how does this make inspector General of police Kakoma Kanganja an innocent person instead of being a prime suspect?

3. CCTV video footages. During our preminary investigations we discovered that the entire area is full of CCTV cameras and video footages clearly shows who did what and from which direction at what angle. The area has also very sophisticated devices installed by a Chinese Huawei company to monitor any suspicious activity in the public domain. Our question to president Edgar Lungu is, what kind of evidence are you requesting from the general public over this operation?

4. A diplomatic plunder and accusations on the international community sending mercenaries to cause havoc. We are shocked Mr President how your own boys and girls have turned to be mercenaries after the operation failed to execute the intended job. Our question to president Edgar Lungu is that, what was the chopper doing in the sky, was it being operated by mercenaries or your men in uniforms?

Every law enforcement officer following interests of politicians is going the Nelson Phiri way, dishonorable discharge. He will even be luck if he is never charged for the murder of the two, may be because he was carrying out a political Agenda. All the people shot by the police were from Lusaka. Nelson Phiri’s Modus Operandi. Kill for politics and you serve longer. Our investigations have continued and we shall keep on updating the nation till we see justice in these killings.

“If the president himself is demanding reforms at police. Then things are really bad but, giving the very man who brought us in this situation to oversee the reforms. Is the most stupid thing I have ever heard.”

LUSAKA Province PF secretary Kennedy Kamba says Matero member of parliament Lloyd Kaziya will not be adopted to stand on the ruling party ticket this year because he has failed to perform in the constituency.

Commenting on Kaziya’s remarks that winning parliamentary elections in 2021 would be more about individual popularity because no one could stop the wind of change, Kamba argued that there was no wind of change in the country, but that the only change that was guaranteed was that there would be a new MP in Matero after the forthcoming polls.

“To me, I think Kaziya has logged off, he has switched off in terms of giving services to the people of Matero. I can assure him that he cannot be adopted in Matero because he has not performed. Let Kaziya not cheat himself, I will challenge Kaziya to stand on the UPND ticket in Matero. I am sure even the UPND cannot adopt Kaziya in Matero constituency. There is no wind of change in the country because this country has been developed by the PF government. Kaziya is dreaming! The only wind of change in Matero is Lloyd Kaziya, who is not bouncing back! Come 2021, after August, there will be a new MP in Matero,” Kamba said in an interview.

“The people of Matero now know who Kaziya is. He is a reject and I can assure you that as a party in Matero, we are not even in a good relationship with Kaziya. If he has decided to stand on the UPND ticket, let him not insult where he is coming from because even where he is going, they are not going to trust him. Can Kaziya be entrusted by the UPND members just because of insulting the leaders of President Lungu and the PF?”

He also expressed shock that Kaziya claimed that government did not assist him to develop Matero when he was a former Cabinet minister.

“So, when Kaziya says that, ‘the ruling party is allowing members of the party, who are aspiring to be MPs in various constituencies to sell themselves,’ and he claims to be popular, the other side, he is crying! If he’s popular, why is he stopping other candidates from making themselves available to the people? Because this is the right time. In February, March, Parliament is going to be dissolved. Kaziya goes ahead to tell the Zambian people that he has not worked because ‘government was not helping him.’ He is forgetting that he was a Cabinet minister in charge of Water and Sanitation. Today, he wants to blame government that they didn’t help him to take development to Matero. Let him not fool himself and let him not fool the people of Matero,” Kamba added.

“As a party, we know that Kaziya has not performed and if someone has not performed, he has to be remorseful and apologise to the people, not to start lying! Why is Given Lubinda in Kabwata not complaining about Danny Yenga, who has made himself available to the people of Kabwata that he is going to contest on the PF ticket? Why is Given Lubinda not complaining? Given Lubinda cannot complain because he has worked in Kabwata in terms of development. Kaziya was fired because he failed to deliver development to the people of Matero. Was Kaziya not a Cabinet minister? Today, he wants to put the same blame on the ministers and government that ‘you are not helping him to take development to Matero?’ Why are other members of the party not complaining? We have Bizwell Mutale in Munali; we have constituency chairman in Mandevu…Is Jean Kapata complaining in Mandevu? The answer is no because Jean Kapata knows that she has worked in Mandevu.”

Kamba stressed that the ruling party in Matero constituency was more popular than any individual.

“Matero is one of our strongholds in Lusaka District and, currently, it is the highest in terms of registered number of voters at constituency-level. It is because of the performance of the structures in Matero constituency, that is why we attained those numbers. The PF is bigger than an individual. We don’t look at the wealth of a person to be adopted. The party in Lusaka District, particularly Matero, is one of the strongholds. Whoever is going to stand on the party based on the recommendations from the people in Matero, we are going to scoop that seat. I can dare the UPND to adopt Kaziya as MP and see if they are going to win. Miles Sampa tried us in Matero, what happened? Did he win in Matero? No. The party in Matero is more popular than individuals,” said Kamba.

Credit: News Diggers

By Chaloka Beyani
(Professor of international law at the London School of Economics, member of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission to Libya, member of the United Nations Secretary General’s Expert Advisory Group to the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement, and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons. This article does not represent the views of the United Nations.)

The recent targeted extra-judicial killing of two civilians, Nsama Nsama and Joseph Kaunda, by the police on 23rd December 2020 are a culmination of a pattern of similar killings by the police, which have not been investigated or punished. That is the hall mark of impunity, understood as a persistent course of unlawful conduct in the knowledge that those involved will not be subject to legal consequences or punishment for killing others or violating their rights. I argue that in turn, this engages the responsibility of the Zambian state in international human rights law as well as entailing individual criminal responsibility in international criminal law for those connected to the killings within government and the police. This article explores these two issues in context.

The context that one discerns of the recent killings in Zambia from comparative international experiences is that of a country rapidly descending from the crest of democracy she straddled in 1991 to being a client state in the use of targeted killings, criminal violence and impunity. Professor Philip Alston, a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Killing, defines targeted killing as “the intentional, premeditated and deliberate use of lethal force, by States or their agents acting under colour of law” and notes that in recent years, a few States have adopted policies, either openly or implicitly, of using targeted killings. Other techniques used among client states aim to close civic and political space, frustrate, harass, intimidate, subordinate, and subdue individuals and civilians into political submission for political ends.

Zambia’s astonishing descent from democracy to criminal violence must be prevented and contained by dealing with impunity. This requires holding the Government of Zambia’s responsibility for the violation of the human rights pertinent to the killings on the one hand, and on the other hand, establishing criminal responsibility individually for those connected with the killings under international criminal law, regardless of their official positions in the Zambian state as a way to address impunity. The most obvious human rights-based responsibility incurred by Zambia as a result of the killings is the breach of the right to life under the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of Zambia read, together with the relevant treaties or international agreements which are binding on Zambia, namely the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 1981, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966.

The Bill of Rights under the Constitution of Zambia protects the right to life in Article 12(1): “No person shall be deprived of his life intentionally except in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law in force in Zambia of which he has been convicted”. Contrary to this protection, targeted killings by police in Zambia have deprived victims of their lives intentionally in circumstances not involving the execution of a sentence following conviction by the courts. This is why the killings are classified as extra-judicial; they undermine the place and role of the Courts in our criminal justice system.

These killings violate Zambia’s international human rights obligations as expressed in Art. 6 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Art.4 ACHPR of the African Charter on human and people’s rights. The basic protection lies in the prohibition on arbitrary/intentional deprivation of life, i.e., deprivation of life not in accordance with law or in violation of respect for life. In the case of Guerrero (Camargo) v. Colombia (45/1979), a woman was one of seven people shot dead by police in a house in Colombia in 1978. In its decision issued in 1982 the Human Rights Committee found that the police action “was apparently taken without warning to the victims and without giving them any opportunity to surrender…”, and it found “no evidence that the action of the police was necessary in their own defence or that of others, or that it was necessary to effect the arrest or prevent the escape of the persons concerned”. The Committee concluded that the police action “was disproportionate to the requirements of law enforcement in the circumstances of the case and that she was arbitrarily deprived of her life contrary to article 6 (1)” of the International Covenant.

If Columbia seems distant, the case of Rodger Chongwe v Zambia (821/1998) echoes the current targeted extra-judicial killings, arising as the case did, from an incident of Zambian police shooting at and injuring Dr Rodger Chongwe and former President Dr Kenneth Kaunda in Kabwe in 1997. In its decision, the Committee observed that “article 6, paragraph 1, entails an obligation of a State party to protect the right to life of all persons within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction. In the present case, the author has claimed, and the State party has failed to contest before the Committee that the State party authorised the use of lethal force without lawful reasons, which could have led to the killing of the author. In the circumstances, the Committee finds that the State party has not acted in accordance with its obligation to protect the author’s right to life under article 6, paragraph 1, of the Covenant”.

An extra-judicial killing may also take place in circumstances of where a convicted person engages regional or international human rights bodies but is executed before such bodies complete hearing of the case. This was the decision of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in International Pen and others on behalf of Ken Saro-Wiwa v Nigeria (161/97 (1998) concerning the politically driven execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa, a political leader of the Ogoni people in Nigeria who was executed secretly.
Protection of the right to life carries negative obligations (constraint) to not take life arbitrarily/intentionally, and specific positive (proactive) obligations arising from the general duty to protect, inclusive of the scope and quality of protection. An underlying test to both obligations is the foreseeability of the risk that killing that must be avoided. The foreseeability of risk was breached when the police discharged firearms with live ammunition into a peaceful crowd, resulting in the killing of Nsama Nsama and Joseph Kaunda.

Significantly, the right to life also enshrines procedural obligations, which in the context of killing by police or security forces, make it mandatory to hold a public inquiry about the circumstances of the killing and to seek to identify the killers, as first established by the European Court of Human Rights in Mc Cann v UK following the killing of terrorist suspects in Gibraltar. Such decisions are significant for the fact that the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of Zambia was extrapolated from the European Convention on Human rights 1950.

In Rodger Chongwe v Zambia, the Human Rights Committee similarly remarked that “in the present case, it appears that persons acting in an official capacity within the Zambian police forces shot at the author, wounded him, and barely missed killing him. The State party has refused to carry out independent investigations, and the investigations initiated by the Zambian police have still not been concluded and made public, more than three years after the incident. No criminal proceedings have been initiated and the author’s claim for compensation appears to have been rejected. In the circumstances, the Committee concludes that the author’s right to security of person, under article 9, paragraph 1 of the Covenant, has been violated.” Thus, the procedural guarantee obligation to hold a public inquiry is different from an inquest and an internal administrative inquiry into the conduct of the police as ordered by President Lungu. The inquiry must be independent, held in public, and its findings must also be made public for reasons of transparency and accountability.

Apart from the right to life, there are other related rights violated. Targeted extra-judicial killings amount also to torture and other cruel, or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment which is absolutely prohibited. Such killings are calculated to hinder freedom of peaceful association and assembly, and freedom of movement, thereby impeding the enjoyment of these freedoms. A case for individual smart sanctions against those involved in extra-judicial killings and repression of human rights and democracy must be considered by other concerned states and institutions to give full effect to the individual responsibility to not violate human rights, as everyone has a right and a duty to defend the Constitution (Art 2) and therefore the Bill of Rights in it.

Turning to the case for individual criminal accountability, it is clear that murder is a crime punishable under the Zambian Penal Code (S. 201). Targeted extra-judicial killings by police epitomise the criminality of the state and undermine the judiciary. Establishing individual criminal responsibility for those responsible nationally or internationally therefore serves to ‘decriminalise’ the state by identifying and prosecuting those responsible. Equally the failure to do so reinforces the criminality of the state itself. A major problem here is that the public order system overseen by the police has lost its legitimacy to the detriment of the effectiveness of criminal justice in Zambia.

Normally, police are an important part of the public order and criminal justice system. Targeted extra-judicial killings by the police, including of a national prosecutor, selective politically induced arrests, are factors that have contributed to the erosion of the legitimacy of public order and criminal justice in Zambia. Citizens have lost trust and confidence in the police and are wary that far from protecting them, the police are bent on disenfranchising them politically and socially. The long-term consequence of this will be dysfunctionality and disorder in criminal justice. That will breed chaos and instability, which in my experience is easier to prevent, but difficult to contain or redress unless the offending elements are rooted out of the system followed by timely remedial participatory and inclusive measures taken nationally on a parity of esteem among Zambians. At any rate, a vetting of the police involving background checks on them, their conduct and suitability to remain in the police, their ability to protect and safeguard the public, and to discharge police functions professionally, is inevitable.

In a globalised world, when national criminal justice systems and mechanisms are unable or unwilling to establish responsibility for the accountability of the architects of criminal violence recourse is to be had to international mechanisms of accountability. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was created for this role and its complementary jurisdiction rests on this premises. The Court was established ‘to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes and thus to contribute to the prevention of such crimes.’ Zambians had the wisdom to affirm Zambia’s continued membership of the ICC in 2017 during consultations held by the Government when the question whether Zambia should disengage from the ICC arose, which gives the Court a great measure of standing to monitor and engage with the current situation in Zambia.http://www.parliament.gov.zm/…/Report%20on%20the%20ICC…
Informed by the definition of targeted extra-judicial killing, the seemingly pre-meditated or organised and lethally executed killings point to crimes against humanity (Art 7 Rome Statute). To the extent relevant to the Zambian context, these include murder, torture, extermination, persecution, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law, and other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health. Attention is drawn to the Auschwitz Institute for the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities recent report of June 2020 on Supporting the Prevention of Identity-Based Violence National Mechanisms: A Case Study of Zambia

http://www.auschwitzinstitute.org/…/Zambia%20Case…
From the onset of the Nuremberg Trials of major Nazi war criminals in 1945, it is in the 1990’s that trends in international criminal law have developed. As shown in the decisions of the Yugoslav Tribunal in the cases of Tadic, Milosevic and Blaskic, and the decision of the Rwanda Tribunal in the case of Kambanda, these developments are such that Head of State immunity is no longer applicable before international criminal tribunals. Article 27(1) of the Rome Statute establishing the ICC consolidated these developments into the following principle: “This Statute shall apply to all persons without any distinction based on official capacity. In particular, official capacity as a Head of state or government, a member government or parliament, an elected representative or a government official shall in no case exempt a person from criminal responsibility under this Statute, nor shall it, in and of itself, constitute a ground for reduction of sentence.”

This means that President Lungu can be indicted and prosecuted by the Court for his actions or omissions constituting crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Court because he is constitutionally designated as the Commander-in-chief of the Defence Force (Art 91(1)), of which the police are a component. The fact that the President enjoys immunity under the Constitution is irrelevant. According to Article 27(2) of the Rome Statute: “Immunities or special procedural rules which may attach to the official capacity of a person, whether under national or international law, shall not bar the Court from exercising its jurisdiction over such a person.” For good measure the South African Constitution 1996 makes no provisions of the President as Commander-in-Chief or of presidential immunity.
In so far as the prosecution of Presidents is concerned, Laurent Gbago, the former President of Ivory Coast was the first one to stand trial before the ICC in 2011. He was convicted initially, and subsequently acquitted in 2019 of crimes against humanity in the 2010 post-election violence. In 2012, I investigated the violation of the human rights of internally displaced persons in Ivory Coast who had been displaced by post-election violence and gained insights at first hand on the nature of the violence in there. Not far from us, President Kenyatta of Kenya had been indicted by the ICC in connection with post-election violence in 2007-08 prior to his presidency but charges against him were dropped in 2014. In Kenya I was first involved as a member of the Committee of Experts that drafted the 2010 Constitution that was crafted to be a remedy against the scourge of violence, but later I also investigated the 2007/2008 post-electoral violence that led to massive displacement as Special Rapporteur in 2012.

Both Ivory Coast and Kenya had experienced post elections patterns of ethnic violence that resulted into thousands of killings and massive internal displacements. Dimensions of this kind of violence, triggered by police killings, is manifesting itself in Zambia in the period leading up to the 2021 elections. This in a country that has had no history of such violence before. The hand of the client state is at play, and as elections in Africa have become a ‘do or die’ affair for incumbents, it is imperative that the ICC engages with the situation in Zambia well prior to the elections as a preventive and deterrent measure in order to establish early criminal responsibility for the architects and perpetrators of the violence.
Although former President Gbagbo was acquitted, and charges against President Kenyatta were dropped for lack of evidence, their appearance before the Court is a warranted reminder of the individual accountability of those who lead states because the primary responsibility for preventing and stopping the violence rests upon them. Former Liberian President Charles Taylor was convicted in 2012 by the Special Court for Sierra Leone and sentenced to 50 years for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. More recently in 2016, the former President of Chad, Hissen Habre, was convicted by the Extraordinary African Chambers’ Special Tribunal in Senegal, becoming the first former President to be convicted in Africa for crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, sexual violence and rape. Thus, in addition to the ICC, special mechanisms can also be set up to try international crimes at the highest levels. In the case of Zambia, the message to be heeded is that no one is immune, and no one is exempt from the International Criminal Court, if they have committed crimes that are punishable by the Court.

In addition to President Lungu, others that risk indictment by the ICC include the Home
Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo who is in charge of the police, other Ministers or officials involved in decision making that led to the killings, the Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja and the police command structure, and the actual operatives. For the latter and others, the defence of acting under superior orders that involve international crimes such as crimes against humanity is not open to them, so all should think carefully before executing orders that will implicate their being prosecuted before the ICC. A safe protective practice is to request any such orders to be made in writing by those who make them. Other states are also willing to invoke universal jurisdiction to arrest and try identified perpetrators before their Courts when they travel abroad. A case in point is that of the late former leader of Chile, General Pinochet, who was arrested on a shopping trip to London upon a Spanish request for his extradition. The report on universal jurisdiction on the link below was drafted by a group us acting officially as expert advisors to the African Union and the European Union in 2009: http://africa-eu-partnership.org/…/rapport_expert_ua…

However, as in any prosecution, the key issue is evidence, which is why it is important to document all available evidence, including statements made. International Courts now also allow the submission of credible digital and electronic evidence, such as videos taken. Sophisticated means of collecting evidence have also been formulated, such as remote sensors, satellite imagery that would capture the movement, position and deployment of the police and other security forces. More advanced tools are specially programmed web-crawling algorithms, and a combination of video, photographic, text, and media platforms. In short, modern evidence gathering techniques are such that there is nowhere to hide for the perpetrators of criminal violence, brutality, and impunity.

Finally, about crossing the rubicon. In 49 B.C. on the banks of the Rubicon river, Julius Caesar faced a critical choice. To remain in Gaul meant forfeiting his power to his enemies in Rome. Crossing the river into Italy would be a declaration of war. Caesar chose war. Jesus retorted, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s”. (Matthew 22:21).

President Edgar Lungu has told newly appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations Charity Katanga to prove her critics wrong by using her skills as a police officer and lawyer to the benefit of the people in the execution of her duties.

And President Lungu has instructed that criminal elements must be chucked out of the police service.

During the swearing in ceremony of Mrs Katanga and Deputy Inspector General in Charge of Administration Mr Richard Mweene at State House today, President Lungu told the former Copperbelt police commissioner that some people were doubting her capability to handle the new duties because she is a woman.

“Some people have already doubted your ability to run your new office. Just remember that we are living in a society where, to some extent, women are still doubted to run senior offices. I am sure you will prove them wrong as you have done in the past. I have every confidence that you will excel in your position, with the support of other officers around you. Copperbelt province, where you excelled, is a good training ground for your new position. I have no doubt you will make it. Show the doubting Thomases that you can do it,” he said.

Others that have been sworn in today are Geza Asigi Lungu, the newly appointed Eastern Province Commissioner of police and Lizzie Peter Machina for Muchinga Province.

And President Lungu said times are gone when people used to run away from police officers instead of seeking refuge from them.

He said the appointments of Mrs Katanga and Mr Mweene must serve as the beginning of the cleansing of the Zambia police service.

Meanwhile, President Lungu said Mr Mweene will help address the administrative lapses in the Zambia Police Service by recommending issues pertaining to staff promotions, welfare motivation, and morale, among others.

“This is cardinal if the officers in the lower ranks are to perform to the required expectations of the general public. I urge you to work closely with the Permanent Secretaries in the ministry of Home Affairs to develop a system that will ensure a motivated workforce. As you are aware, the ministry provides the policy direction to the Zambia police service,” he said.

And President Lungu said he expects full discipline from the officers and instructed the senior command to weed out all the criminal elements from the service.

The President said as much as many people have openly shown disdain against the police, they still need the them.

“I have been Home Affairs Minister before and I know that your job is not easy. Much as many people have openly shown disdain against you, they still need you. We have seen citizens, out of rage, totally destroy a police post, only to wake up the very next day and cry for a police post in the same place! As your commander-in-chief, I understand the challenges you go through, I understand the dangers you come across, and I know when people are genuinely complaining against you and when they are being unfair to you,” he said.

“Some people will say they have every right to demonstrate or protest and yet some of those actions could lead to a stampede or violence and they will cry out for your help. The same people will ask for your rescue.”

By Sara Imutowana Yeta II

Every time the Patriotic Front (PF) led regime has made a national blunder, or there is an exposé of wrongdoing, or its political ploy against Hakainde Hichilema has backfired and at the receiving end of citizens’ condemnation, the PF government will quickly dream up an issue to divert citizens’ attention from the issue at hand.

A few examples include when the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) found that a handful of very high profile government figures were engaging in massive trafficking of mukula trees, and citizens were calling for a thorough investigation into the scandal, government quickly fabricated an issue that Hichilema sold the Lower Zambezi National Park to divert citizens’ attention from the illicit mukula trade.

When the Mwinilunga gold outrage hit the ceiling, from nowhere, they started accusing Hichilema of selling mines to divert citizens’ attention.

Then came the dazing wave of mysterious gas attacks that claimed lives of many citizens.

When citizens demanded for answers on who was gassing people and the mastermind, suddenly, they started saying Hichilema fraudulently won the presidency of the United Party for National Development in 2006 following the death of Anderson Mazoka, and accused him of being behind the gas attacks.

When citizens were opposing Bill 10, again they tried to divert people’s attention by enlivening the issue of privatisation accusing Hichilema of exploiting the exercise for personal gain.

They are now doing the same thing with the killing of Joseph Kaunda and Nsama Nsama by police officers.

A few days ago, the Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo informed the nation about the presence of foreign mercenaries linked to a certain opposition leader intending to destabilise the country.

If there are mercenaries in the country, why ask them to leave instead of arresting them since Zambia is a signatory to the 1989 United Nations Mercenary Convention banning the use of mercenaries?

We know that Kampyongo is hallucinating because this is a thought-out political agenda setting scheme to divert citizens’ attention.

They always come up with a cock-and-bull story to divert citizens’ attention from important issues.

Therefore, they schemed the mercenary issue to stop citizens from demanding for answers on who killed Kaunda and Nsama by setting another piece of news to be the most important.

Of course, it has been easy for the PF regime to set the political agenda because they are in control of public and some private media houses.

As a result, media houses editors and managers are used as gatekeepers of their political agenda setting scheme to cover issues identified by PF politicians in order to divert citizen’s attention from their poor leadership.

Sorry to say, some non-government organisation leaders, government officials and influential personnel are also used as instruments of political agenda setting, making people such as Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo to make unprofessional statements that seem to be crafted from the PF secretariat.

Distraction is therefore PF government’s tactic to turn away citizens from its failures.

They think citizens are irrational not to see through their political agenda setting plots devised to distract people’s attention.

In this day and age, no amount of political priming by deliberately drawing attention to certain issues and not what citizens believe is important in order to alter the standards by which citizens evaluate national issues is going to work.

Besides, no amount of political framing by selective shaping and contextualisation of national issues will fool vigilant citizens.

We have an analytical citizenry that cannot merely adopt frames of political references to see things in a way the PF government wants.

Our citizens are capable of interrogating contexts within which national issues are encoded and decoded.

My argument is that the PF government is deliberately diverting citizens’ attention from serious national issues by cooking up situations implicating Hichilema of wrongdoing.

However, the strategy is not effective because citizens are able to see through the PF government’s political agenda setting machination.

Besides, it is difficult for the scheme to work on citizens who have made up their mind and have their eyes on the ball.

This, however, should not bring comfort to Hichilema because between now and the time parliament is expected to be dissolved, political agenda setting schemes devised against him will be increasingly dangerous.

For this reason, Hichilema cannot afford to be complacent about his safety and security.

In addition, he is competing for power with hard-core delinquents.

Their goal is clear; to ensure that Hichilema is not on next year’s presidential ballot papers no matter what, regardless, whatever happens, at any price, and come what may.

By CIC PF Reporter.

KANGANJA IS BETTER THAN KAPESO PANTU ALITUMPA ULYA HE BEAT UP PF CADRES AT COURT BAMUCHENJESHA NAENA KAPESO WAS ON HH PAYROLL-MWILA.

PF Secretary General Hon Davis Mwila has celebrated the firing of Bone Kapeso saying he was a nuisance and not friendly to PF cadres. Mr Mwila wondered how a deputy Police Inspector General would be against PF cadres of the ruling party at a time when security was needed in Zambia. Mr Mwila has accused and described Mr Kapeso as being a nuisance and and a barrier to many PF cadres operations in Lusaka after he threatened to break their bones and get paid for it. He says time and again many PF cadres have complained about Mr Kapeso’s conduct favoring the opposition.

He said that when the news of Kanganja being fired showed up him (Hon Davis Mwila) almost fainted with fear and shock until changes where made to instead keep Kanganja and get rid of Kapeso. Speaking to CIC in Lusaka this afternoon Hon Mwila said that PF was not safe with Kapeso as DIG operations but have trust and confidence with Charity Katanga from the Ccopperbelt who has been promoted to replace Mr Kapeso.

“Bamuchenjesha alemona kwait alikwata sana amano Kapeso” (He has been fixed he thought he was so clever).

“Tamwamwene efyo aumine abaice pa court ? Ukuma abaice kwati katwishi bambi baliya namu ma cells twalisa amba ukupapata pakuti bafume ama cadre ba PF ninshi muntu washani uyu ta twali nankwe nakelefye limbi alefola nakuli HH.
Pantu takwaba ukuma abaice filia ba muchenjesha naena”

(You didn’t see how he beat up PF cadres at court? Beating cadres like no mans business others even ended up in custody we where all shocked until we started begging for them to be released we wondered what type of a person he was, it’s very clear he was not with us maybe he was drawing salary from HH there is no way he could have beaten PF cadres like that) said Hon Mwila.

Mr Mwila said PF has confidence in Kanganja very much because he listens and understands the party needs, he said Kanganja is way better than Kapeso so it’s good that his contract has been extended.

But former DIG operations Mr Kapeso has responded that he does not care or worry about the job that is full of malice and unfairness saying he has God to worry about not the job.

CIC PRESS TEAM

By Elias Sakala cic Private Reporter.

LUSAKA ~Lusaka.

THOSE CHANGES IN POLICE ARE MEANT TO BRUTALIZE CITIZENS MORE AND CONSOLIDATE LUNGU’S HOLD ON POWER.

In his continued show of incompetence and lack of capacity to preside over the affairs of our great nation president Edgar Lungu has once again done that which no responsible leader should ever do. He has masked the problems in our law enforcement system by firing those that he should have retained and retaining those that he should have fired and to ice it all up he has promoted an overzealous, incompetent and mischievously biased police officer as Deputy Inspector General in charge of operations in the name of Charity Katanga.

It is now clear to us that whenever the president acts he does so not in the interests of the country and our cherished democracy but rather for him to consolidate his unpopular stay in power. Instead of giving us hope that extra judicial killings by the police will come to an end, we are now faced with the scary prospect of having an increase in police brutality and murder at the hands of the police under the watch of Charity Katanga.

We all know that the changes that are required are the firing of IG Kanganja, Minister of Home Affairs and his counterpart Lusaka province. These three are the culprits, they are the architects of the murders we witnessed last week. They are the ones that called the shots and ensured that live ammunition was used on innocent unarmed citizens which led to the deaths of Mr Nsama Nsama the State prosecutor and Joseph Kaunda our member. By retaining these individuals Mr Lungu is telling the zambian people that he approves of their murderous conduct and he wants them to continue on the same path for him to remain in power.

Mr Lungu has decided to reinforce this murderous group by bringing in Charity Masambo Katanga as the new Deputy IG. We should expect nothing but more brutality from the police. We all know that the only reason why Bonnie Kapeso lost his job is because of his professionalism and how he refused to tolerate the criminality of PF cadres as was recently witnessed at the courts. Kapeso has gone because he did not agree with police brutality and PF’s lawlessness.

Otherwise, there is nothing new we expect from Katanga. In case some of our people have forgotten, this is the same Charity Katanga who as Southern province Commissioner arrested Mazabuka MP Hon Garry Nkombo on a trumped up charge of murder during the Livingstone Constituency by-elections all in an effort that she could cripple the party’s campaigns.

We have also not forgotten how she recently claimed that suspected gassers in Chingola were turning into black cats when confronted by the police, meanwhile lives were lost. She is on record to have on numerous occasions denied the opposition their constitutional right to hold meetings on very frivolous and ridiculous grounds. In a nutshell, there is totally nothing new Charity Katanga is bringing on the table apart from more and more police brutality!

ISSUED BY;

OTIS BWALYA,
INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY.
UPND LUSAKA PROVINCE.

CIC PRESS TEAM

(SPIT IT OUT LET IT OUT)

A story by Michael Zulu).

PRESIDENT LUNGU FIRES A STRAY BULLET AND IT LANDS ON BONNY KAPESO’S HEAD MISSING THE TARGET.

Police IG (PIG) Kanganja and Minister of Home Affairs Hon Kampyongo have escaped unhunt from Presidential bullet in a fight to put the police service in order while the seemingly innocent Bonny Kapeso has been used as a sacrificial lamp. If the Chipolopolo team is not doing well today, do you fire the captain or you fire the Coach? if police service is not doing well then who should be fired? I thought it’s the IG and his Minister first.

Kanganja must go. Firing Bonny Kapeso then should be a starting point but it should go all way to IG and Minister. As at now the President has a duty to fire his unruly team before Zambians fire him in 2021.

For how long has PIG been in office and how much damage has been cased by or in police service? Who was the PIG when:
-Mapenzi was shoot dead by police?
– When Vespers was killed by police through teargas suffocation?
– When riots spark out in sesheke elections,
– When little boy Frank Mugala was shoot dead police?
– When PEP President Sean Team was hacked daylight by PF cadres in the presence of police guard?
– When PF card Emmanuel JJ Banda stormed central police, stole money, beat up police?

For how long has PIG been in that office that The President can give him 6 months to sort out the mess he created in over 3yrs +?. The same goes to Hon Kampyongo. I wonder why President Lungu is allowing his advisors to paint mud on his face.

Bonny Kapeso has been sacrificed for beating up PF cadres especially during Hon Chitalu Chilufya court case. In his remarks Deputy PIG said every crime will get an equal share irrespective of affiliation. He warned cadres that he will break their bones because be is paid to bring order in the nation. This is the person our President decide to fire. No Mr President, you needed to fire Kampyongo and Kanganja.

They are messing up the nation. But truthful speaking President Lungu has decided to keep Kanganja for campaign time. If you look at 6 months from now, its June which collide with nomination days. Between now and June, our nation will still be in an orchestrated mess. Zambians should not expect any change to this. There is purely no sanity and clean up which Kampyongo and Kanganja will bring. Its all a shame to the republic. Let’s mourn our lost souls and await for more unexplained situations in the hands of police. Firing Kapeso is not enough Mr President. The question is why is President Lungu avoiding letting go of Kanganja and Kampyongo?.

CIC PRESS TEAM

By CIC Editors.
CIC EDITORIAL ANALYSIS.
LUNGU’S STATE POLICE CONSPIRACY THEORY EXPOSED: DID IT HAVE TO TAKE 2 LIVES TO REWARD BAD KATANGA OVER GOOD KAPESO?
When Koswe released the names of officers to be promoted after HH summon people thought it’s a joke here we are. But one astonishing thing is the agony behind the criteria of retiring Kapeso over Katanga if good policing was a qualification. The president has been exposed what exactly he wants from the police certainly not good officers.
Katanga does not deserve that position better than Kapeso unless we are told the former DIG Operations was the one who fired the trigger.

Nelson Phiri’s suspension follows the video of him captured telling his juniors to harmer one at the presidential motorcade of UPND leader Mr Hakainde Hichilema.
CIC would like to announce that whoever the first post that came that Kanganja was fired was very true and that’s the position before an after thought to allow him conclude investigations over the death of two people last week. Mr Kanganja’s contract has been extended artificially backfiring the good propaganda.

Lungu’s image rating and public confidence raised following the news of firing Kanganja and worsened when he changed his mind to keep him for another 6 months , what is worse and worrying now is the appointment of Katanga as DIG Operations which has raised so much concerns how does she qualify than Kapeso.

One thing is clear president Edgar Lungu is not fixing anything but messing everything up beyond normal. He has the authority as the head of state to get intelligence of whatever degree to act on something if at all public confidence in police is an issue. Kanganja’s 6 months extension is way too insulting to investigate himself over a report that will never come. We wouldn’t be surprised that Kanganja’s contract maybe extended for another year because president LUNGU doesn’t care about the public confidence or whatever it comes with but he cares what’s in it for him and his cadres of PF especially with 2021 general elections.

Our headlines says State Conspiracy Theory of sacrifice, pretence, bad games and politics.
To go deeper in detail is the question we should ask ourselves that Did it have to take two lives to act wrongly on police officers when so many lives have been lost at the hands of the police yet no action. When Lungu doesn’t act the situation is better than when he actually acts because our president is not gifted to good actions but pretense that actually exposes his bad side of agenda.

Kapeso is fired not because he has anything to do with the two deaths but his stay at the police would rather have two deaths instead 10 or more. This is a man many PF cadres felt is working with the opposition when he waged war against them at the magistrate courts following the court appearances of Mansa central MP and Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya. Mr Kapeso publicly said these cadres will not be allowed to take law into their own hands at his watch. We paid critical attention in reference to PF that he questioned whether they want to become police officers so that him he goes to the village unfortunately the cadre number one representing them all has responded and acted to actually send him home permanently this followed before thought of promoting him as the new IG on top.
The other person fired after appointment is the embattled Richard Mweene from Northern province promoted as DIG Admin this is a suicide mission because the man will not only fail to deliver as the task ahead of him surrounded with the curtail enemy of the people by names Kakoma Kanganja and Charity Katanga as his bosses will choke him to be so incompetent and forced to do what he can’t. Mr Mweene we can predict his end days in PF government faster than anyone the best he can do is decline the promotion and resign himself or take the risk of eroding whatever he has worked for ad more blood on citizens is coming ahead.

The theory at play here is the assembling of the master team on the police unity that will be used to wreck the opposition way easily than it was with Sibote as DIG Admin and Kapeso as DIG Operations. The master move made by President Edgar Lungu with a bid to win public confidence has actually landed himself a perfect match to abuse the opposition further.

What’s in it for the opposition UPND?
UPND should brace themselves for more torture and ambush from the Zambia police it’s a presidential design with elections agenda. Sibote Eugene and Kapeso where silent resistances blocking Kakoma Kanganja to do a lot of harm.

Lusaka is officially hostile for the opposition with the coming of Katanga and the existing devil we know in Kanganja it’s Richard Mweene who will try his best to resist but he won’t last long UPND are on their own defense to re-strategize how to relate with new command which we all know won’t be friendly.

This was our analysis for today next analysis later we are going to look at the voice notes Innocent Kalimanshi on the Home Affairs minister Hon Steven Kampyongo.
CIC PRESS TEAM

PF GOVERNMENT CONCEDES KILLING NSAMA AND JOSEPH BUT NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
Fellow country men and women, we are heartbroken to see a sitting government under president Edgar Lungu prod our inflamed emotions with more pain inside our hearts due to their diabolical and childish reasoning towards national matters especially the police brutality in the country.The country is still demanding for answers following the gunning down of two unarmed civilians last week on Wednesday, a masacre that left several others injured by Zambia police under the command of Mr Lungu.

The following day, Mr Lungu issued a press statement that we can only refere to as a hangover message subconsciously issued to the country that by Monday, December 28,2020, a full report on what he tamed as assailant gunned down civilians was going to be given to the country. To the contrary, on Monday, Lungu failed to avail the report before the country instead he has instructed all his handlers to embark on the blame game against the opposition for the deaths that PF Government is responsible for and make bogus reshuffle in the Zambia Police.

What does this mean to the country? From Lungu, Esther Katongo, Kampyongo, Kanganja, Mumbi Phiri,Sumaili and Sunday Chanda’s statements it’s evident enough that Edgar Lungu,PF and Zambia Police whilst jointly acting together they willfully killed state prosecutor Nsama and UPND member Joseph. At the same time they’re all not ready to take responsibility for these killings. That is the clear message so far we have managed to extract from their statements.

Why do we say so? The first statement came from the President himself who called well known Zambia Police officers and his party cadres in uniform as unknown assailants sponsored by the opposition meaning they are snipers who were unidentifiable. Unidentified but recognized and known enough to be distinguished from the Police. What a stupid and twisted lie. He went farther to blame opposition members for escorting their leader to police force headquarters. What was the PF government’s agenda in wanting Hakainde Hichilema to appear before the police alone if they PF can call the killers in uniform as unknown assailants? Did they want an atmosphere of secrecy to execute their plan? The Zambia police under Kanganja and Esther Katongo, have also issued similar statements in line with Lungu’s school of thought of trying to portray innocence until the country forgets. Kampyongo, Mumbi Phiri, Godfridah Sumaili and Sunday Chanda have teechoed their boss’s statement. This is a very sad development for our country. We have individuals in government who are playing a political game on us as citizens.

What has really hit our hearts with heavy and painful thoughts is the statement by home affairs minister Steven Kampyongo were he claims there are some foreigners who are causing this havoc in the country working with the opposition. He adds on to say his government has requested them to leave the country before he takes an action. Who does what Kampyongo claims? The potential for civil unrest remain very high for Zambia and the home affairs minister asks the known culprits to leave the country? What a shame? Could it be the reason we don’t have any one convicted of any past atrocities. The powers that be ask the criminals to flee! Zambians! we are not safe, how can the ministry of home affairs release criminals who are sabotaging our nation? What is Kampyongo trying to tell us here? What will stop these purported foreigners attacking us when they leave Zambia? Why not arrest them so that the world sees who’s gunning down innocent citizens and to deter future infiltrations. Zambians are not fools to be fooled all the time.

Fellow country men and women, this statement by Kampyongo has left my stomach boiling because, I don’t know how safe our nation is. How can a government fail to disclose criminals who are not even Zambians? What and whose interest are they protecting? This is a question that demands a million answers. All we can say is that PF Government willfully murdered Nsama and Joseph just like they have killed many other opposition members and never ever taken responsibility. This is not new. Remember Lungu himself referred to them as pawns in his game. Highly expendable to safeguard his grip on power.
Sikaile C Sikaile
Good Governance and Human Rights Activist for Zambia and Amnesty International

THE SHOOTING OF NSAMA NSAMA AND JOSEPH KAUNDA AND COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY
By Muna Ndulo
(William Nelson Cromwell Professor of International and Comparative Law Cornell Law School, USA)
On Wednesday December 23, a crowd largely composed of UPND members gathered outside Police Headquarters to support Hakainde Hichilema who had been required to submit to interrogation at Police Headquarters concerning the purchase of a farm in Kalomo in 2004. At issue was a private purchase agreement concluded in Kalomo in 2004.

On the face of it, this issue, is probably time bared by the statutes of limitations. The complainant of the alleged crime is a private individual with no ownership claim to the property. Considering all this, it is bewildering the importance the police attached to this complaint. The legal appropriateness of the inquiry should be left for discussion to another day. During the interrogation, scores of heavily armed police officers arrived outside the police headquarters and at other nearby government buildings. They alighted from police vans in combat readiness formations and without any warning whatsoever began shooting at an undisputedly unarmed and peaceful crowd. Their bullets struck and killed Mr. Nsama (a public prosecutor) and Mr Joseph Kaunda (a UPND member) and injuring scores others.

The crowd did not breach any law by assembling as they were exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to assemble. Articles 21 of the Zambian constitution states: “ Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of assembly and association, that is say, his right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to any political party, trade union or other association for the protection of his interests.” It is also guaranteed by International Conventions such as the International Covenant for Civil Political and Rights and the African Charter on Human and People Rights. Zambia is party to both conventions. Additional facts are that, the previous day, the Inspector General of the Police, Kanganja, and the Minister of Home Affairs, Kapyongo, publicly warned that UPND supporters who would escort their leader to Police headquarters would be dealt with decisively by the police.

Further, without providing any shred of evidence they alleged that the UPND was planning violence. Mr Kanganja had similarly warned and additionally sent signals to all the police stations in Lusaka and asked them to mobilize for Wednesday. Pursuant to this order, the police deployed hundreds of heavily armed police officers. The weaponry displayed is associated with war zones and definitely not suitable for civilian policing. It reminds one of the infamous apartheid era police deployment of “Casper’s” in black townships and the violence they unleashed on black populations. The equipment displayed in most countries is reserved for armies and for combat zones.

Many organizations, Catholic Bishops, international and local human rights organizations, the Law Association of Zambia, civic society organizations have rightly condemned the shootings. Some have called on the President to dismiss Kapyongo and Kanganja from their posts and still others have called on the duo to take responsibility for the killings of Mr. Nsama and Mr Kaunda and resign on moral grounds. While I agree with those sentiments, I would like to argue that in fact on the set of the undisputed facts outline above, Mr Kanganja and Mr Kapyongo are guilty of murder and crimes against humanity and should be charged as such.

The argument that they are guilty of murder is based on a well- established principle of criminal liability in international criminal law known as “command responsibility”. This principle is well established worldwide and has been successfully employed in international as well as domestic trials. The doctrine posits that superiors, both civilian and military, can be held criminally liable for the criminal acts of their subordinates on the basis of their; (a) ordering of subordinates to commit crimes and (b) the failure to prevent abuses or to punish subordinates who have committed abuses.

The article will first show that the shooting of Mr. Nsama and Mr Kaunda in the circumstances they were killed were criminal acts prohibited by international norms and amount to extra judicial killings and crimes against humanity and will then discuss the law relating to command responsibility.

The International norms applicable on the use of force by the police is well established. The major instrument on this issue is the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba, 27 August to 7 September 1990.

Paragraph 9, of the Principles states; “Law enforcement officials shall not use force against persons except in self-defense or in defense of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury, to prevent the perpetration of a particular serious crime involving grave threat to life, to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting their authority, or to prevent his or her escape, and only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these objectives. In any event, intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.”

The Principles have a specific provision dealing with policing of assemblies.
In paragraph 12 it states: “ As everyone is allowed to participate in lawful and peaceful assemblies, in accordance with the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Governments and law enforcement agencies and officials shall recognize that force and fire arms may be used only in accordance with the following principles: (a) in the dispersal of assemblies that are unlawful but non-violent, law enforcement officials shall avoid the use of force or, where that is not practical , shall restrict such force to the minimum extent necessary and (b) in the dispersal of violent assemblies, law enforcement officials may use firearms only when less dangerous means are not practicable and only to the minimum extent necessary. Law enforcement officials shall not use firearms in such cases, except under the conditions stipulated in paragraph 9 above”. As we clearly see, the norms are very clear that firearms can only be used in exceptional situations.

In this case, there was no exceptional situation; the actions of the police were premediated as evidenced by statements from Mr Kapyogo and Mr Kanganja who without proof claimed prior knowledge that the crowd would be violent. A clear figment of their imagination, or a result of incompetent intelligence produced by incompetent intelligence services. I am not sure which one of those reasons is worse and should worry the country more.
Since the facts are not in dispute, the next question we should consider is what is the law in relation to criminal liability arising out of command responsibility.

No doubt, the officers who shot Mr. Nsama and Mr Kaunda are guilty of murder and crimes against humanity. Our argument is that in addition, Kapyongo and Kanganja are equally guilty of murder and crimes against humanity. Individuals who order a crime to be committed are individually culpable if the order achieves its purpose. Ordering the commission of a crime is thus a form of direct, rather than vicarious, liability. Superior responsibility attaches if the defendant had actual or constructive knowledge that his subordinates were committing abuses and he or she did not take necessary and reasonable measures to prevent these abuses or to punish the perpetrators.

In The Prosecutor v. Blaskic (Case No 95 Yugoslav Tribunal, 2004) , the court held that in terms of the requirement of mens reas, a necessary component of criminal liability, is established when “ ..a person who orders an act or omission with the awareness of the substantial likelihood that a crime will be committed in the execution of that order, has the requisite means rea for establishing responsibility .” The court went on to state that ordering with such awareness has to be regarded as accepting the crime. Such a responsibility arises directly when the acts in question have been committed in pursuance of an order of the commander concerned. In this case, Kapyongo and Kanganja are well acquainted with the violent behavior of their police force turned a militia force towards opposition groups.

Here we cite the cases of Vespers Shimunzhila, Frank Mugala and Lawrence Banda among several civilians violently killed by the police without any effort to investigate the crimes and punishing the erring police officers.

The doctrine of command responsibility is ultimately predicated upon the power of the superior to control the acts of his or her subordinates and the failure to exercise that power. A duty is placed upon the superior to exercise this power to prevent and repress the crimes committed, and a failure by him or her to do so in a diligent manner is sanctioned by the imposition of individual criminal responsibility in accordance with the doctrine. A superior’s failure to punish a crime of which he or she has actual knowledge is likely to be understood by his or her subordinates at least as acceptance, if not encouragement, of such conduct with the effect of increasing the risk of new crimes being committed.

Some of the earliest applications of this principle were during the Nuremberg trials. During the Nurember Trials, both military and civilian superiors, including high level members of the Japanese cabinet, were convicted by the Tokyo Tribunal solely on the basis of the activities of their subordinates. The most well-known cases include the trial of General Tomoyuki and Foreign Minister Hirota. More recent examples are the trial of President Milosovic (Yugoslav Tribunal; Bashir (Sudan) and Kayesu (Rwanda).

Clearly on the available facts both Kanganja and Kapyongo are guilty of premeditated murder by inciting the police to act in the manner they did. Additionally they knew of the previous conduct of the police. It is important that they are prosecuted, although it is clear that this will not happen under the current regime whose President, clearly going by his utterances on the death of Nsama and Kaunda, approves of the conduct of the police. He famously wondered why the crowds had exercised their freedom of assembly (come to the police headquarters) when only one individual was summoned, completely ignoring their constitutional right to assemble and associate with whomever they wanted to. There is however no reason why a future government should not prosecute the duo. The task at the moment therefore should be to preserve the evidence. If Zambia wants to cross the bridge from a police to a democratic state and establish constitutionalism and the rule of law, it is imperative that there should be no impunity for such heinous crimes.

It would not be a matter of revenge over a defeated regime, it would be a matter of justice and accountability. As Robert Jackson the lead prosecutor at Nuremberg observed during the trials: common sense of humankind demands that law shall not stop with the punishment of petty crimes by little people. It must reach men and women who possess themselves of great power and make deliberate and concerted use of it to set in motion evils which leave no home in the world untouched.”

To establish the rule of law, Zambia has to end impunity. Our nation cannot tolerate or afford to leave such heinous crimes unpunished, because doing so will lead to the crimes being repeated. Zambia’s survival as a democratic state rests on this not being repeated

LUNGU’S FOUR DAYS ULTIMATUM TURNS INTO A NATIONAL INSULT
The cold blood killings of Joseph Kaunda, a UPND supporter and Nsama Chipyoko a state Prosecutor is an indicator of our degeneration as country. Away from the counter accusations and finger pointing, the situation is definitive of our irretrievable loss of decency and normalcy as a democratic country. Where are our Democratic and Christian values? Could be the same reasons we could arrest and imprison innocent Zambians just after the day of national prayer and fasting? We seem to have reached a point where the abnormal and extraordinary has become the normal and ordinary. Right from the government top leadership through to the cross section of society, there are some people who are either driven by ignorance or dogmatic royalty to the PF Government who literally blame the dead just like President Lungu did in his speech.

The Government official position as allegedly communicated by President Lungu, Religious Affairs and National Guidance Minister Godfridah Sumaili, Kakoma Kanganja is purely one of self exoneration and arrogant carelessness. In their evil eyes, the two were not killed by the bullets they commanded to be fired but by their support to HH. We need to retrace our lost foot steps by analysing our security tier. The Police are by law mandated to provide domestic public security and order to the Zambian people. They are a tax supported Institution and tax payment is an inclusive Civic responsibility. The Police is mainly mandated to ensure law and order which in most cases would be instigated by armless citizens.

In addition to this, they also have specialized units such as the Anti-Robbery squads and Paramilitary units. Depending on the security threat level, a particular unit would be deployed to police a particular situation. In any case, Policeman are not allowed to use live ammunition in normal policing operation such as public order. We however seem to have lost our understanding of our democratic rights as Citizens. As Zambians, we have the Constitutional right to assemble, offer solidarity to a person or cause of our choice. The Police are by law supposed to protect the people that decide to protest, offer solidarity or support a particular cause. For as long as no public property is destroyed, which is why the police should be around, then no law is broken. This is the normal democratic environment which we have lost. The police were supposed to provide full security to the UPND supporters. This is not a favour but an obligation. Very few people know and understand this. The Police are not actually mandated to decide whether or not to authorize such public action, the police are simply notified.

The threats which Stephen Kampyongo, Esther Katongo and Kanganja issued were a traversity of citizens right and we know that these overzealous feloows their hands stained with innocent blood. It also goes further to show our abysmal security assessment incapability.

The state deliberately allowed the mayhem in their miscalculation to win public confidence. Edgar Chagwa Lungu sanctioned the ongoing trailing and desperate drive to distract the Zambian people by allowing the attempt to arrest Hakainde Hichilema and assassinate him. He was briefed on progress.

How many times has Hakainde Hichilema been arrested on flimsy grounds? Edgar Chagwa Lungu knows that he is trying to create a situation where paradventure, HH could be convicted of any crime just like he did to Chishimba Kambwili. To Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the gunning down of the two Zambians was a success in his game of public deterrence. Joseph Kaunda and Nsama Chipyoko where expendable pawns in his game. In a normal functional police, it’s very easy to know who fired and killed the two gentleman. Daily logs would clearly show the culprit cop. Would the state bring out such a finding? Never! Monday was yesterday and we have all seen the insults he has thrown to the nation by maintaining and shielding real criminals.

We’ve had such killings in the past and the police have not issued any statement. To this day, Zambians are still waiting for the arsonists for City market, Gassers, etc. Some people either by choice or blind loyalty downplay the failed Economic situation. To the many Zambians, the situation is excruciatingly suffocating and families are falling apart, children dropping out of school, breadwinners retired in national interest, girls forced into prostitution and hospitals out of medicines. This the deathly situation that compels people to defy the threat of a bullet. People are dieing in their homes all because of PF’s failed policies.

Hakainde Hichilema is promising a bright morning out of this gross darkness of Economic mismanagement. Do you think people would easily give up on their hope easily? Hakainde Hichilema did not invite anyone to the Police station. The suffering brought on the Zambian people by the PF invited the people to force headquarters.The Police invited all the suffering Zambians who find hope in the pragmatic policy options that Hakainde Hichilema is presenting. Basic security assessment should have clearly shown this scenario. Why should the Police pretend to have missed this predictable situation. If thieves like Chitalu Chilufya, Chitotela and Kampyongo could throng the courtroom with supporters, what more a national leader of HH’s standing? There is nothing illegal and no law was broken by the supporters who matched to force headquarters. Anyone who blames the dead or the supporters of UPND is either a killer or a pathologically ignorant person.

No car or public building was stoned. No person was harrased by the UPND supporters. What was wrong with all this from the legal perspective?Why are people so heartless as to want to defend murder. A person who defends murderers is herself or himself a murderer. Why don’t they condemn the use of live ammunition on peaceful demonstrators. PF has adopted the ZANU-PF style of public intimidation. This is exactly how UGANDA got to where it is.

Edgar Chagwa Lungu calls such killings as PAWNS in other people’s games. I know that he is laughing as usual when the other families are mourning. He is feasting while other families are drenched in tears that will never dry. To him, Nsama and Joseph are expendable pawns in his game to rule Zambia forever. The four days ultimatum was a cleansing time to cheat and lie to the Zambian people. Real killers of Nsama and Joseph are right in state house just like gassers have been protected by Lungu.

Sikaile C Sikaile
Good Governance and Human Rights Activist for Zambia and Amnesty International
BY CIC PRESS TEAM

THE Zambia Police Service says it regrets the loss of two lives which was as a result of the public disturbance which could have been avoided had the leaders of the political party taken heed of the advice earlier given by relevant authorities.

Spokesperson Esther Katongo said in a statement that some criminal activities were beyond what meets the eye.

Katongo however thanked the families of Nsama Nsama Chipyoka of National Prosecutions Authority and Joseph Kaunda for allowing their relatives to be buried peacefully without any disturbance.

Katongo said it was in this same vein that the police was thanking members of the public for their peaceful conduct during both funeral processions.

“During the illegal public disturbance that happened on 23rd December, 2020, police impounded three buses which were used to ferry cadres to Police Service Headquarters under the guise of giving solidarity to the opposition UPND leader who was summoned by the police. More than 32 bus loads of cadres were spotted on that day and as police we have instituted investigations with the view of impounding all the buses that could have been involved in ferrying cadres,” she said. “As Zambia Police, we regret the loss of two lives which was as a result of the public disturbance which could have been avoided had the leaders of the political party taken heed of the advice earlier given by relevant authorities.

Prior to the illegal public activity, the Inspector General of Police had advised political cadres to stay away from the planned illegal public activity.”

She said home affairs minister Stephen Kampyongo also emphasised the need for cadres to stay away but that the UPND leadership in their statement dared the police and went ahead to mobilise people to be part of the illegal public procession which saw cadres turning up in huge numbers.

Katongo said it should be understood that the public order Act regulates assemblies, public meetings and processions in the country and section 5 (4) demands that persons intending to assemble or convene a public meeting, procession or demonstration should give police notice of their intention to do so.

She said this provision does not exempt those that want to give solidarity by gathering in a public place.

Katongo said it was therefore imperative that all those wishing to conduct a public activity do so within the confines of the law so as to avoid public disorder or being in confrontation with law enforcement officers.

She said the Zambia Police, being an institution charged with the responsibility of ensuring that public order and peace prevails at all times and that all law abiding citizens were protected from law breakers, shall not fold hands and watch lawlessness thrive.

“Being an institution charged with the security of the nation, we are privileged to have privileged information which members of the public may not have and we do understand that it is during public disturbances such as illegal public gatherings that criminal minded people who could also be part of those assembled, would want to advance their criminal activities which may in the end lead to loss of life,” Katongo said. “The motive of such criminal minded people is to have the blame shifted on government institutions with a view of pushing the agenda of discrediting such institutions for political mileage. As the country prepares to go to a general election next year, we wish to state our position clear as Zambia Police that we shall never tolerate any scheme by any political party which has potential to cause anarchy in the country.”

Katongo said any lawlessness shall be met with the proportionate force because Zambia was bigger than any individual.

“We further urge members of the public to restrain themselves from commenting on issues that they may not fully understand because they may end up sympathising with perpetrators of heinous crimes,” said Katongo. “Some criminal activities are beyond what meets the eye. As Zambia Police, our resolve is to protect the people of Zambia from any form of criminality and we shall do just that in fulfilling our constitutional mandate.”

UPND SHOULD RESPECT AND ADHERE TO RULE OF LAW. WHY ARE THEY IN SO MUCH PANIC OVER ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS?

We have noted with amazement the levels of panic and name dropping that has engulfed the UPND to the extent of party secretary general Mr Stephen Katuka issuing conflicting statements. It is first and foremost important that we respect institutions that govern this country. The level of disrespect in the UPND hierarchy towards President Edgar Lungu and his office leaves a bitter taste. It is not in our culture to publicly address elders and those in high office (especially the President) on first name basis. This speaks of a level of bitterness and disregard among upnd leaders for the very office they aspire to one day run.

In his statement, Mr Katuka accuses President Lungu of questioning why UPND cadres escorted their leader to the police. I challenge him to show the nation where and when President Lungu mentioned UPND in his statement? The president categorically used the word “citizens’. Such naivety by the UPND is symbolic of guilt and panic.

His queries over police presence at the funeral of the late UPND cadre yesterday are neither here nor there. It should give him comfort because police were there to ensure law and order prevails. We have seen how reckless, untamed, unruly and destructive upnd cadres become during funeral processions. Last time around they ran amok in the streets of Lusaka and damaged public and private property. If he has further queries on that, he should engage the police.

We are surprised that today Mr Katuka questions the President`s and accuses him of instructing police to man the funeral when he has been at the forefront asking for police protection in upnd activities. The President is Commander-in Chief. Mr Katuka should be glad that police ensured a peaceful burial of the late UPND cadre and that is what every Zambian of goodwill expected.

Demanding that President Lungu steps down is a clear admission of panic and defeat before we even go to the 2021 polls by Mr Katuka and his fellow leaders in the UPND. We are in a democratic dispensation and as such, Zambian citizens by law are the ones that ELECT a President. There is no handover on a silver platter as was the case in UPND in 2006 when power was handed over to Mr Hichilema. That culture will not be brought to statehood. Mr Katuka and his party should know better.

UPND should allow police to conduct its investigations exhaustively. We urge Mr Katuka to be exemplary in his statements and avoid being prejudiced. If he has knowledge of the shooters as indicated by Mr Hichilema that snipers were placed in the crowd on that fateful day, let him assist police in identifying the killers.

In conclusion, Mr Katuka should ask himself why it should be that each time Mr Hichilema embarks on a gathering or is summoned by police, innocent lives must be lost. Why is it that people have to die around him in very suspicious circumstances?

When PF leaders are summoned, they ensure peace prevails among those offering them solidarity. Why is it the opposite with Mr Hichilema? Two of these incidents are well documented with videos taken and released by UPND cadres within minutes of the killings. It is our utmost hope that our colleagues in the UPND will sober up and desist from name dropping, finger pointing and panicking.

Let me conclude by reminding the UPND Deputy Secretary General Patrick Mucheleka that I have always cautioned against placing other people’s children in harm’s way. So to Mucheleka let me repeat that Politicians must use their own biological children as frontline political activists and not other people’s children. Stop those crocodile tears, enough is enough! Umungulu wakwa HH waingila muli Mucheleka nama cadre bakwe mwaipaisha Nsama Nsama Chipyoka and Joseph Kaunda.

Issued By:

Hon Mumbi Phiri
Deputy Secretary General
Patriotic Front Party
Party Headquarters
Lusaka

29/12/2020

Jonas Shakafuswa:👇🏽bene chishi

WHEN THE POLICE BECOME CRIMINALS.

The police become criminals when they don’t follow the Constitution in carrying out their duties. They become criminals if they take unlawful orders. They become criminal when they turn against the people they are supposed to protect. They become criminals when their preoccupation is the suppression of the opposition, who want to have the Government account on how they are running the affairs of the Country. They become criminals when they take orders from criminals in Politics. They become criminal when they deny the people their rights and freedom to impress failed and incompetent Leadership. They become criminals when they deny they shot Nsama and Joseph. But then we have a good cream of officers who are suffering silently because of the loss of professional conduct by Command who takes wrongfull orders from Politicians and have made it day to day work for the Police to fight imaginary enemies of the Country.

Opposition Political Parties. Today we have known criminals disrespecting trained officers. We have known drug dealers running the Country. Yes we know drug dealers put in some moneys for campaigns. But does that give them authority to run our economic activities? Today Leaders has amassed wealth when the people are wallowing in poverty . Can the Police say for sure the Leaders are not stealing from the people? The Leaders are running community welfare from their homes.

Giving out social welfare hand outs to the impoverished citizen, which is usually supposed to be a government function. Are thePolice seeing this? How can the economy be only for PF while the rest of Zambia is denied their share. But then then thieves steal from people and institutions. Yes most small ones are arrested leaving the big ones who intimidate the Law Enforcement Officers with huge party cadres processions when they are summoned. But let HH be accompanied. They kill innocent citizens.Yes time to press for change is now. The Senior Police officers who give wrongfull instruction should be retired without pension for working against the people they are supposed to Police and protect. Learn from Malawi. It took the Army to bring sanity to the Police and the Country.

Police you haven’t the numbers on your side when you force a peoples uprising. Let us work toward a peaceful united Zambia for all. Let us give respect to all Zambians irrespective of political association. After all, it is the Constitution which allows a Multiparty State. A Christian Nation. Although leaders behave like Satanist. Kanganja Kakoma. Zangalewa. You were raised in a very good family. You were always a good Cop. Tell stupid politicians the limits of Law enforcement. Don’t be used as a tool of oppression against your own people.

By Mutale D Mwamba (Very concerned citizen)

STEPHEN KAMPYONGO’S DANGEROUS PATH.

Legend has it that a wiseman learns from other people’s mistakes and a fool learns from own mistakes. The same legend has it that excitement breeds discontent especially political incumbency excitement. In the history of Zambia, we have had political leaders who have risen from rags to riches geniusly and who have risen through mere luck. Those who has risen to top leadership on merit and those through bootlicking. Those who are fit and qualified for their appointments and those who are not. One of the luckiest, most unfit, most unqualified and most unappreciative political leader ever to be on the government hierarchy is Stephen Kampyongo. Appointed as Minister of Home Affairs a position fit for a fully qualified lawyer with integrity and experience, he has reduced the Ministry to an institution that promotes lawlessness instead of being home security conscious Under him, the subordinate departments have committed more atrocities compared only to the worst dictatorships.

He has become law himself.
Being a product and descendant of SURVIVORS of the Lenshina uprising conflict that claimed thousands of lives in Chinsali in the early 60s before Zambia’s independence, he should have appreciated the peace and stability that Zambians have enjoyed during the other five(5) regimes from KK to Michael Sata. He should have appreciated the Zambian people’s tolerance of his hypocritical handling of Zambia’s internal security. He should have appreciated that being appointed Minister of Home Affairs with only an invincible certificate in black market bureau de change from Katondo Street in Lusaka, Zambia instead of appointing a professional lawyer with a doctorate degree from Harvard University in USA is out of mere luck and not genius.

Instead of instilling security consciousness in the minds of Zambians, he has instilled fear in that citizens have been subjected to harassment by PF cadres who are mostly former bank robbers, aggravated robbers, pickpockets, petty thieves, house breakers and other criminals who have shifted camp to a more lucrative PF party cadrism and have been given more power by Kampyongo than the professional police service and have literally taken over Local government and land allocation unlawfully pocketing the proceeds. Those with divergent views have been subjected to unlawful arrests.

Opposition political leaders have been intimidated to a level of wanting to shut them up.
Is this the Zambia our independence founding fathers fought for when they negotiated for independent Zambia? Are we going to continue having mediocre leadership the likes of Kampyongo? Is Kampyongo not aware that it is this kind of behavior that has caused upheavals in countries that have experienced civil wars? Is Kampyongo in the right frame of mind? Is he historically fair to his fellow Chinsalians who went through the agony of police brutally like what is happening now? Why is Edgar Lungu so unfair as to appoint a hard hearted nonentity of Law as MoHA? What have we Zambians dine to deserve such absurd behavior from our government? Why PF? Why?

The United Nations and other peace keeping organizations should check Stephen Kampyongo’s behavior before things get out of hand. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Kampyongo is a danger to Zambia’s democracy. We donot need a Wariamongu in Zambia. Furthermore his boasting of having bought a large stock of armory for the police force to get rid of those opposing the PF negative governance style is outrageous. Zambia is doomed with Stephen Kampyongo as MoHA. Zambians beware.

CIC PRESS TEAM