UPND women demand Kabonde’s removal

UPND women demand Kabonde’s removal
By Namatama Mundia
Sun 23 May 2010, 04:01 CAT

UPND Lusaka women’s league on Friday protested demanding the resignation of Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde for failing to curb violence in the Mufumbwe by-election.

The women, who were led by UPND deputy secretary general Sikwindi Situla, information and publicity chairperson for the women’s league Beatrice Sakanga-Kwendakwema, deputy national chairlady for women’s affairs Namakau Kabwiku and UPND chairperson for health and nutrition Patricia Mulasikwanda matched from the party secretariat around midday to Force Headquarters to present their petition to Kabonde.

But the cadres were prevented from entering the headquarters and were instead told to wait for police spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso in the car park outside the police premises.

And when Kapeso arrived, Situla informed him that the women’s league wanted an audience with Kabonde.

However, Kapeso informed the UPND officials that Kabonde was in Mozambique and that he needed to consult his superiors whether to accept the letter addressed to the Inspector General or not.

While, the cadres were waiting for Kapeso, police district commanding officer, a Mr. Chushi emerged from a car and ordered the cadres to disperse peacefully, saying he did not give them permission to hold a demonstration.

Chushi claimed that the demonstration by the cadres was illegal but organisers of the protest informed him that they got permission from top officials and they had documents to support it.

After about 15 minutes, Kapeso emerged and informed the cadres that he had been authorised to receive the petition on behalf of Kabonde.

“As I indicated earlier on, your specific demands to see the IG, I have consulted and I have been allowed to accept your petition. Now you should disperse in peace the way you came here,” he said.

And in a letter addressed to Kabonde dated May 18, 2010, the UPND women’s’ league demanded that Kabonde resigns as Inspector General of Police and that an inquiry be instituted immediately to establish the cause of violence in Mufumbwe.

The women’s league expressed disappointment at the manner in which Kabonde handled the violence caused by MMD cadres in Mufumbwe.

“In a democratic country ruled on the principles of democracy, the police is mandated to provide an impartial dutiful role, the police is there to protect the lives of the people no matter which political party they belong to. We therefore request you the Inspector General to resign your position on moral grounds,” the letter read in part.