Maravi

Sata likens police to MMD vigilantes

Sata likens police to MMD vigilantes
Written by George Chellah
Friday, July 03, 2009 3:27:50 PM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata on Friday said the police are now a vigilante committee of the ruling MMD, which is being used to harass and intimidate journalists from The Post.

Commenting on the warn and caution statement recorded by the police from Post news editor Chansa Kabwela, Sata said there are many institutions in the country today that were conducting their affairs like MMD committees.

"The police and the Judiciary are some of them. The police and the Judiciary are behaving like they are committees of MMD. It's clear by now that The Post didn't take those photos. The police is being used to divert attention from the government's failure to govern," Sata said.

"The police is now a vigilante committee of the MMD, which is being used by the government to harass and intimidate journalists. On real cases they don't arrest people, the only criminals we have in Zambia today is The Post and PF cadres. MMD cadres have been harassing and beating up people and they have not arrested them."

Sata said this sort of state intimidation must be stopped.

"That's state intimidation, which is very common in Communist countries, we will see more of that," Sata said. "This MMD political security committee you will see them very shortly, they are going to round up [former local government minister] Sylvia Masebo. Their interest is to protect MMD, they have even forgotten that they get our taxpayers money."

And Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post secretary general Sheikh Chifuwe said it was not surprising that the police had recorded a warn and caution statement from Kabwela for allegedly being in possession and circulating obscene pictures.

"We are not shocked because the directive came from the head of state, Mr Rupiah Banda although the police officers seem not to know where to find the fish," Chifuwe said.

"It is clear that the action is not intended to investigate the so called pornographic materials as claimed by Mr Banda at his press conference, but an attempt to silence the independent media, particularly The Post newspapers."

He said President Banda had consistently failed to subdue his hate for The Post newspapers due to its criticism of his governance and commitment to the development of the country.

"We wish to remind Mr Banda that press freedom is the umbrella under which all essential freedoms in democratic societies are strengthened. Where it does not exist the state can selectively undermine and destroy fundamental freedoms without public debate or sometimes even knowledge," Chifuwe said. "From the actions of Mr Banda, we have no doubt that his intention is to curtail public debate so that they can continue governing over a people who lack information to make informed decisions."

He urged Kabwela, other journalists and all employees of The Post to remain steadfast and continue doing what was in the best interest of society.

"Politicians come and go. It is clear that Mr Banda is alive to this fact and is possibly concerned about his personal wellbeing before he exits the Presidency of the Republic of Zambia," Chifuwe said. "We, however, urge him that the harassment of journalists or indeed the citizens he claims to be leading will haunt him when the curtains of his exit are drawn and the clapping audience is all gone."

On Thursday, Police recorded a warn and caution statement from Kabwela. This is after she was summoned for interrogation at Lusaka division police headquarters. But Kabwela told the police that she awaits her day in court, saying it was foolish and ridiculous to suggest that The Post deals in obscenities and pornography.

The allegation is that of being in possession and circulation of obscene pictures tending to corrupt the morals of society and that the said pictures were circulated to Vice-President George Kunda, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja, minister of health Kapembwa Simbao, Women for Change (WfC), Non-governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and the Archbishop of Lusaka, contrary to section 177 1 (a) of the Penal Code.

Section 177 1 (a) of the penal code states that: "Any person who- (a) makes, produces or has in his possession any one or more obscene writings, drawings, prints, paintings, printed matter, pictures, posters, emblems, photographs, cinematography films or any other object tending to corrupt morals is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years or to a fine of not less than fifteen thousand penalty units nor more than seventy five thousand penalty units."

The police are acting on instructions from President Rupiah Banda, who last week during his press conference at State House called for the arrest of those allegedly distributing pictures of a woman in labour.

President Banda said The Post was a malicious newspaper, which had even gone to the extent of publishing 'pornography'.

According to sources within the police, the investigations on the labour pictures have been intensified following President Banda's directive.

"The investigations have continued and we hear there were even plans to go and search madam Kabwela's house to check if she has those pictures at home," the sources said.

The sources revealed that there were plans to slap another allegation of money laundering on Kabwela.

"They are trying to charge her with money laundering as well because they suspect that she was paid money by the photographer or a politician to publish those pictures in order to discredit the government," the source revealed.

"We hear there were even plans to screen her bank accounts because they suspect that the money from the politician must have been transferred using the bank. So they want to monitor the movement of money in her accounts with the banks."

Labels: POLICE, SATA, THE POST

posted by MrK @ 2:28 PM