Fellow Citizens,
This morning, I was really perplexed and disturbed by the videos and pictures that reached me regarding the sad events happening in Kasempa, of North Western Province. The Scenes of chaos, brutality, bloodshed, fear and violence have so profoundly been etched on my heart and mind.
I must, without ambiguity of any kind, condemn the actions taken against our fellow citizens in Kasempa by law enforcement officers. It is an act of grotesque violation of human rights to use live ammunition on unarmed people trying to eke out a living on the recently discovered gold deposits in their locality. Such acts of violence and police brutality on innocent civilians is unacceptable and barbaric because these poor people are merely trying to sustain their families’ in this very harsh economy that we have all been unfairly and grossly subjected to.
Across Africa, the local people who are being tear gassed, chased away and sometimes killed by brutal uniformed state personnel in this gruesome manner are the true owners of the minerals underneath than our visiting investors we deeply cherish and always want to give and honor with our minerals. Just as we have human animal conflicts in game areas, the state must know that local people will always show up wherever minerals like gold or emeralds are discovered in their areas. It is how the state deals and manages this confrontation or conflict which ears them respect or makes them become enemy of the masses. In Kasempa, this government is now deemed as the enemy of the people!
Further, I must mention that recent reports by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of death of some innocent Zambians allegedly beaten to death by police officers in their custody in Lusaka is both unfortunate, unacceptable and deeply disturbing. All these acts of political repression, police brutality and state violence constitute a grave breach of trust vested in our law enforcement agencies by our people and inexcusable. The role of the Zambia Police is to preserve and protect the lives and property of the people, not harm or kill them in this immoral and inhumane manner.
I know that even under my own regime the police were not innocent but let’s call a spade a spade, a wrong is a wrong and I wish to call upon the Zambia Police to uphold the rule of law, exercise restraint as they undertake to do their duties, and be guided by principles of justice, fairness, professionalism and respect for human dignity and life. The police must avoid being used as tools by criminally minded and selfish politicians to further any agenda that undermines the rights and freedoms of our citizens. Remember, we politicians will come and go but an institution like the Zambia Police Service will remain standing.
Lastly, I wish to send my sincere sympathies to the families of the Kasempa victims and the family of detainees who allegedly died in police custody or under the hands of uniformed officers. As well mourn with you, may our God strengthen the affected families in this very sad time.
May God Bless Zambia
H.E Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu
Sixth Republican President
UKA Alliance Member
A criminal minded political chancer like you like you sir
This your 6th President of Zambia you are insulting!!
Please read and comment on content only.The people dying and suffering are our fellow human beings whether they are UPND or not!!!
he is just trying to pretend and shift attention from JJ disappearance.
THIS GUY PRETENDING
ayaba kujupa jupa, because the police are getting closer. Hiding as politician will not help.
Word…With his Ambassador of lies Mwamba
In your time or tenures, people where shot daylight by trigger happy police. It even git worse as time went by.
*got.
Sermons of the sheep and snakes
You did not come out the same way on Senseli gold mining remember.
I seen no bloodshed when I watched the news. Your excellency sir please stop trying to make an uprising.
BA boss, you sound like someone who has just waken up from a trance! Since when did you ever become alive to brutality and passion for the citizens?
Do you remember what was going on in your seven years of hell? Were you conscious or you were enclosed in some kind of evil cell?
Do you remember your cadre Kaizer, JJ, the Jerabos and all the thugs surrounding you?
For God’s sake, you are irrelevant to the current dispensation and you should keep quiet. This is a government of laws and not confusion.
Let order come back to this country, rather take your confusion to where they can tolerate it.
Ironic advice coming from a man who allowed the Police to use lethal force at a UPND peaceful demonstration that led to the death of two people while he was head of the executive.
Zambia is generally a peaceful country, we do however have imdividuals that lack an appreciation of the laws and the rile of the law.
In this case a bluntant disregard of the law has consequences. The Police have a duty to uphold and enforce the law. Today we read what Bishop Alick Banda suggests. If that is not inciting the clergy to be political and stop their calling I dont know what is. Mr. Lungu suggested that Jay Jay was on the brink of death and donors should step in.
One has to wonder if being in opposition means being uncouth, and instigate breaking of the law.
I ask if that is the kind of opposition UPND was. They stood up for certain things, but not lawlessness. Jay Jay is a perfect example of failing to uphold a law. Today he has proved to us what a character he is. Who vetted for him to be nominated by the party and end as MP with a criminal record? Today the same man wants to lecture the Police when he has failed to uphold the law as a citizen let alone as President of a Country.
You brought PF youths into the police with a political command only answerable to Kanpyongo and Mwila not the IG. You created Kamugote in Chawama, a barrack for torturing political opponents. You are the father of violence. You created Commanders in markets and bus stations for PF to be in control of everything without any dissenting voice. Your own party PF manifesto states that, “any position of influence whether in government or parastatals must be occupied by a paid-up P.F. member. So PF are full in government carrying on with their stealing of drugs, violence including all vices in the book. It is you who has left a problem to the UPND administration. You have left the whole lot of hooligans in the police, every ministry of government. HH does not want to chase them from government because he says they are Zambians. You, you are the last person to talk about morality. How many people did you kill as political opponents? Plenty. So Mr. Lungu just shut up your mouth.
He is born again.So intriguing to here the sentiments of such nature from him.If Chibulo was not killed,Banda ,Nsama Nsama and others.Gassing victims.We still have the memory please.
Nsama Nsama, Lawrence Banda Mapenzi Chiwulo Joseph Kaunda were all killed by sir, By PF POLICE when you were the president of Zambia. Have you forgotten or you still do remember. It means you were the one who was using the police to kill their fellow citizens – Police were being used by PF as per your write up here.
Sir kindly help us with the report about the gold that was stollen Kansensele which was and taken from Mwinilunga District Police station. Additionally, why did you use your party members of central committee to go and investigate this very issue instead of the Zambia police.
Where is that very report and where are those sacks of gold. Please.! Let the Police follow up this issue.