Civil society vows to intensify honking

Civil society vows to intensify honking
Written by George Chellah, Ernest Chanda and Chibaula Silwamba
Sunday, October 04, 2009 4:56:22 PM

A Consortium of 18 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has vowed to continue honking and whistling against Frederick Chiluba's acquittal despite the arrests.

And Mandevu and Munali PF members of parliament Jean Kapata and Mumbi Phiri respectively on Friday spent a night at Lusaka Central Police after they were detained for honking and whistling against Chiluba's acquittal.

Meanwhile, hundreds of motorists in Lusaka central business area on Friday evening honked, whistled and blew trumpets as they sought to push the government into appealing against Chiluba's acquittal.

In a statement on behalf of the CSOs, Caristas Zambia executive director Sam Mulafulafu dared the police to be on the streets from 17:00 hours until the following morning as the honking and whistling strategy would be intensified in the weeks to come.

“We, the 18 civil society Organisations, frontrunners in the honking and whistle blowing against the acquittal of Dr FJT Chiluba do totally condemn the abuse of the Zambia Police Service by the government. We are determined to honk and whistle back Dr Chiluba to court no matter how long it may take. We wish to state that no amount of intimidation will work and has never worked with us. We are now even more resolved than ever to forge ahead with public mobilisation until the people of Zambia get equal justice,” Mulafulafu stated. “We wish to thank those that honked and whistled on Friday and we encourage more citizens to join in this battle. As civil society we shall not relent in our efforts to provide leadership. We totally condemn the action by the Zambia Police Service to arrest nine innocent citizens, including two honourable members of parliament for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression. The reaction from government is cowardly and does not show a system that understands human rights or the essence of citizens' participation in the governance of this country.

“We demand the immediate release of the persons arrested and we do encourage the police to show impartiality in dealing with national issues and not show double standards where those who support the acquittal can publicly demonstrate without any police harassment and beatings. When Hon. Mabenga and the MMD cadres were expressing solidarity in the acquittal of Dr Chiluba, the police stood by to provide security and we wonder why they should victimise other citizens who disagree with government. If government has nothing to hide, they should allow all Zambians to exercise their constitutional freedom to express their views.”

He announced that the strategy had been extended.

“We wish to notify the public that the Consortium has extended its honking and whistling strategy on every Friday from 17 hours to 24 hours anywhere in the country and we invite the Police Command and the entire Service to be on the street from 17 hours until the following morning as the honking will be more spirited in the few weeks to come,” Mulafulafu stated. “We encourage the Police to create more bed-space or cells at various stations around the country as they should expect more innocent clients to be arrested if they don't stop with these malicious, arbitrary and illegal arrests. The more police presence on the streets and the more sirens there will be, the better because the sirens will contribute to the intended honking. We expect the police to ensure that the honking and whistling is conducted in a lawful and peaceful environment and without intimidation.

“We would like to advise Hon. Shikapwasha and Hon. Mangani to desist from making unsubstantiated attacks on diplomats who are not part of this national cause. We would advise Hon. Shikapwasha not to misdirect his energies on non-issues such of challenging civil society to forming a political party. We remain committed to promoting One land, One Nation and One Law is our Cry for all citizens.”

And Kapata and Phiri were on Friday detained for honking and whistling against Chiluba's acquittal.

The duo's lawyer Wynter Kabimba confirmed the incident yesterday.

Kabimba said his clients who spent a night on the stairs at the entrance of Lusaka Central Police Station were yesterday morning formally arrested.

“They have been arrested this morning at around 11:00 hours. Though when I enquired I was told that the police are still preparing the papers, they haven't charged them yet,” Kabimba said.

Narrating the incident on Friday, Phiri who was flanked by Kapata at Lusaka Central police complained of being unfairly treated by the police.

“We were arrested at Arcades roundabout around 17:00 hours. We were going to Jean's place that's when somebody tried to cross the road and I hooted to remind that person that I was right behind him. After that I just noticed some police officers coming to my car to say ‘you are honking’,” Phiri said. “'They jumped into our cars and said ‘let's go to the police’. That's when we now started honking because we can't be arrested for nothing. So we resolved to start doing what they were accusing us of doing and we honked all the way from Arcades to here with police officers in our cars.”

The duo who were seated outside the police station in the company of Kabimba and Kabwata PF member of parliament Given Lubinda refused to enter the police station.

“We are seated here because we have refused to go in cells. Let them find a bulldozer to lift us. I’m not going in. We are not going in. Why should we go in when the real thief is sleeping in Kabulonga? Ka Chiluba kali ku ng’anda [Chiluba is at home]!” said Phiri as Kapata chipped in: “This is our country, Chiluba is just a little drop not even a normal drop but just a little drop in the ocean and a wife snatcher. This is now political because the police who are supposed to be non-partisan are siding with the ruling party.”

About 15 policemen and women stood helplessly as the duo went on narrating their situation.

An unnamed police officer believed to be the officer-in-charge tried to plead with the duo but they refused to comply.

“Officer, I feel sorry for you because I know you are just being used. Otherwise you are just wasting your time and you will end up having a headache just listening to me because I never get tired. I will talk the whole night just seated here. And also bear in mind that I am paid for talking so talking is my business,” Phiri told the officer who stood helplessly and kept scratching his head.

This prompted a senior police officer only identified as Mr Ngimu to come in with the hope of convincing the duo to comply with the police.

“I think let's not do things like we don't know what we are doing. If you have committed an offence, let's go inside. Let's go in my office and talk. Who is the counsel for these two? ...because if you sit here these people standing will act as police officers and push you in,” Ngimu remarked.

In response, Kabimba said: “if you are saying that they will react like policemen then let them act. What's the point of going to your office if they will act?”

Ngimu later asked Kabimba to accompany him to his office. After 20 minutes, Kabimba emerged from Ngimu's office.

“He told me that as counsel go and tell your clients to come in so that we charge them. I said 'no it's not my job. If you want go and use whatever force you want to use since that's what you have said'. I told him 'they are outside but I will not do your job, if you want go and shoot them'! That's how I stood up and left,” he narrated.

Later, National Assembly deputy security officer a Mrs Mwanamakwa arrived at the police station with the hope of negotiating for the duo's release.

Mwanamakwa went into Ngimu's office but there was still no progress until she left.

A few minutes after she had gone, Ngimu emerged and instructed the police to forcefully push the duo inside the station.

“Can you get officers and have these people arrested and put in cells. These are people we want to respect. Resisting arrest is also an offence so just get officers and put them in cells. We have talked about this and I will not talk about it again,” he said. Around 23:50 hours a team of about nine female police officers were brought in to execute the assignment, but they just stood watching as Kapata and Phiri dared the police to touch them.

Phiri and Kapata slept at the entrance of the station under the watchful eye of the officers and were only arrested the following day.

And an identified police officer was heard telling Kabimba and Lubinda that the offence allegedly committed by the parliamentarians did not warrant detention.

“This is a simple traffic offence where one can only be fined and released. It doesn't even fall under a misdemeanour. We are just being used boss, so please understand!” he complained.

Meanwhile, Lusaka resident a Mr Kakubo had his driver beaten and detained after he honked to prevent an accident with the vehicle that was ahead of him.

Kakubo, who is a patient and was being rushed to UTH, had his vehicle a Toyota Chaser registration number ABG 9660 impounded from 17:00 hours to 20:00 hours before he was allowed to proceed to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the honking which started on a low note in Lusaka's city centre intensified when motorists saw police harrassing their colleagues.

As the honking increased, there was also a build-up of police presence at the junction of Cairo and Church roads.

Several police officers were seen being dropped outside the main Post Office where they waited, armed with sjamboks.

Police officers took advantage of the traffic lights at the junction and harrassed motorists who honked as they waited for the traffic lights to give them a go ahead.

More police reinforcement was seen as several officers were brought to the scene in a white light truck, a Mazda registration number ABT 30.

The behaviour of the police incensed motorists and pedestrians, making them honk and whistle more.

As one motorist was being blocked by a police officer who was on a motorbike, several pedestrians descended on the police officer and ordered him to leave the motorist alone.

One pedestrian was heard shouting, "Iwe muleke ninsambu shakwe! Ngataukwete fyakucita kabiye mukwikata ba kabwalala [Leave that person because he is exercising his rights! If you do not have anything to do then go look for criminals and arrest them]".

Despite police harassment, the motorists kept on honking and blowing whistles, while pedestrians joined in with trumpets.

Towards the end of the 10-minute period, the noise intensified on Cairo Road as traffic also increased and cut through the road from Kabwe roundabout to Kafue roundabout.

The noise attracted attention from onlookers who stood on the road sides, with some of them applauding.

On Freedom Way, there was less honking, but police presence was everywhere on the road.

A handful of motorists honked while others just drove on.

One motorist talked to, Lucas Muswatila, said most of the people were not aware of the protest.

"I think you have witnessed little activity on Freedom Way because it's the first day of the protest. Most of the people were not aware, and others were not too sure if it will be there. But you see in everything, first days are quite difficult to make an impact I'm sure there will be a huge turnout next Friday and the other weeks to come. Surely we all know that Chiluba stole and because he has been helped by his newly found friend Rupiah Banda we cannot allow him to be mocking us the people he defrauded. Just wait for next Friday, I think it will be more interesting," said Muswatila.

Police arrested and detained nine people, among them the two PF parliamentarians for participating in the honking.

When contacted for comment, police spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso confirmed arresting the nine people who he said were remanded in custody.

"We have arrested nine people in connection with the honking. We have charged them with unnecessary honking and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace; and they will appear in court on Monday [tomorrow]," said Kapeso.

On Wednesday last week, 18 civil society organisations resolved to wear black and honk every Friday at 17:00 hours in all major towns to push government into appealing against Chiluba's acquittal.

Chiluba was acquitted last month by the Lusaka magistrate court on charges of embezling US $500 000 public funds.

Despite public calls for government to appeal against the acquittal, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga has refused to appeal, citing weaknesses in the case.