PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/05/2024
THE WARNING BY THE POLICE TO FORMER PRESIDENT MR ECL IS TIMELY:
In a democratic state like Zambia, all citizens enjoy their full potential for human rights including the right to movement.
In a democratic state like Zambia, all citizens are free to associate with others without any hindrance.
The former Head of state Mr ECL is a Zambian living in a democratic state that upholds the rule of law and the full respect for Human rights as enshrined in the Zambian constitution.
That said however, there must be a difference between the former head of state in his personal capacity visiting, traveling around even as a family and him as former head of state visiting, traveling around with a battalion of carders, his national( PF) management team.
The former head of state knows very well that anything that goes beyond his personal or family travelling is tagged political visit and this is tantamount to public gathering, this is where the difference lies.
The walk he had on 9th May 2024 was political going by who he was travelling with and what his own man Mr Nakachinda said in reaction to the warning from the Zambia police.
I want to appeal to the former head of state not to challenge the law because as a lawyer himself, he understands the public order act which he religiously used during his tenure.
Let us uphold the unity that we are currently enjoying. We have one zambia one nation to build together
Issued by
Dr NOEL CHISEBE
GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST.
The Police must give room to the opposition to engage the people. Mr. Lungu did a walkabout in the CBD of Lusaka and there was no violence witnessed. Generally, Zambians are peaceful.
Let the opposition have their rallies. If they misbehave, they can be sanctioned. Last year, the Police IG, Mr. Musamba, denied the Socialist Party a permit to hold a rally in Kitwe and said that they can have their rally in the first quarter of 2024. We are coming to the end of the second quarter and the opposition are being denied the opportunity to mass organize.
We voted out the notorious PF because of the way they unfairly denied HH the chance to campaign, though in the end it made little difference because PF were soundly beaten when the people finally spoke.
Let us move away from this unfair treatment of the opposition.
Ba JMC follow what Chisebe is saying. The first paragraph reitarate exactly what yoi are saying. But its important to make a contrast. There laws about public gatherings. Even with Lungu’s immunity from prosecution; its important that he realises that he should not abuse that immunity.
There efforts being made to amend the law. However, its law that to have a public gathering one has to have a police permit. Is that not one of the cases that Kambwili faces with that chap who is Tayali’s friend from the seminary? This is aside from the tribal utterance. Tayali’s friend when released on bond ran back to the seminary. So why should the same apply to one group and not the other? Lets speak to facts as they stand. Want change, amend the law. But that is a would allowing chiaos in the making. Just look at what is happening in the Lusaka CBD where the culture of cadrism is back when the Head of State has said no. People want things and dont understand the consquences of what they suggest.
The opposition are just stiring the pot to find cause for appeal. The law is the law. Were they denied a permit in this case? Did they apply for permit? So they are now above the law cause they are the Opposition?
Ba Mulenga, Mr. Lungu taking a stroll in the Lusaka CBD doesnot constitute a gathering. If people gather around him out of curiosity or simply because they have nothing better to do, you can’t blame him. Mr. Lungu doesnot need a police permit to walk down Cairo road.
If it is the law, how come it doesnot apply to the ruling party? The ruling party is above the law? It was wrong during the time of PF and it is equally wrong now under UPND.
The public order act only requires the organizers to inform the police about their gathering and the courts have ruled to this effect on two or three occassions but the police have deliberately ignored the courts under MMD, PF and now UPND.
This Chisebe is even outsmarted by a praise singer like JMC, at the risk of being excommunicated from HaUPND!!
Ba Musankwa, I am not a member of the UPND so they cannot expel me. As for being a praise singer, the fact is, I love my country and hate thieves with a passion.
Let us just face the facts. The man has decided to fight back due to what he views is an attack on his family. Those who are next in the line of fire are also concerned about their cases being activated. So we have people fighting for survival.
The sad fact is that the citizens are getting a bad deal because the are not the main agenda in this whole drama.
The main motivation is not to serve the people at all but to protect self at all costs.
It is easy to read into theae things once you connect the dots.
We the citizens on the other hand are looking for trustworthy leaders. A strong mesaage of no compromise to leaders who can not be trusted with power or our national resources should resound to all politicians found wanting. Be it the past or the current ruling party. We will treat you like a plague. A danger to society.
We are fade up with fake leaders who want to use us and all we get back is being cheated while they amass our money as personal wealth leaving our national coffers empty.
Ba Mulenga, Mr. Lungu taking a stroll in the Lusaka CBD doesnot constitute a gathering. If people gather around him out of curiosity or simply because they have nothing better to do, you can’t blame him. Mr. Lungu doesnot need a police permit to walk down Cairo road.
If it is the law, how come it doesnot apply to the ruling party? The ruling party is above the law? It was wrong during the time of PF and it is equally wrong now under UPND.
The public order act only requires the organizers to inform the police about their gathering and the courts have ruled to this effect on two or three occassions but the police have deliberately ignored the courts under MMD, PF and now UPND.