Henry in Kenya reports are false, says envoy
By Bright Mukwasa
Tue 21 Feb. 2012, 12:01 CAT
THE Kenyan High Commission in Zambia says reports that Rupiah Banda's son Henry was kept at State House while in Kenya were false. Kenyan High Commissioner to Zambia Dr Kipyego Cheluget said the allegation was false and had embarrassed Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and his family.
The then Inspector General of Police Dr Martin Malama had said the government through Interpol had issued a notice to Interpol member states - to which Kenya is a member - for the arrest of Henry Banda, awaiting formal extradition request upon his arrest.
Dr Malama said Henry was last seen in South Africa and was believed to have headed to Kenya.
Later, sources in Kenya disclosed that State House in Kenya had kept Henry when he was in that country and at the time the Zambian security personnel were looking for him.
But High Commissioner Dr Cheluget said: "Kenya is deeply disturbed by Zambian media allegations that Henry who is wanted for questioning in Zambia is hiding in State House, Nairobi… allegations which are not true. There is no way that Kenya can keep or hide a foreign national who is wanted for questioning in his country.
"In fact it is The Post that made this claim in a banner headline.
Kenya demands an apology for this claim from The Post Newspaper which made these false claims. His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki and his family live in State House, Nairobi and to claim that he is hiding a fugitive is really to belittle the dignity of our President and Kenyan nation."
Dr Cheluget said the continued unfounded media speculation on the issue may be unnecessarily injurious to the good relations between Zambia and Kenya.
He said Kenya had checked the records at the entry points and had ascertained that Henry was not in that country presently or if he was, then he used undesignated entry points.
He said the records Kenya had indicated that Henry left that country on 23 November 2011 via Jomo Kenyatta International and not returned, saying he once used Zambian passport NO: ZP005673 and when he visited the country previously he used different passport numbers ZP005193 and ZP005131.
Dr Cheluget also said their records did not show how long Henry had used the other passports.
He said the relevant Kenya government security machineries had been mobilised to have Henry arrested "whenever and wherever he was spotted in that country".
Labels: HENRY BANDA, INSPECTOR GENERAL
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Government should reinstate abuse of office clause - Libongani
By Bright Mukwasa
Thu 16 Feb. 2012, 12:01 CAT
THE government should reinstate the abolished section 37 of the Anti Corruption Commission Act, says newly-appointed Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani.
Libongani who was represented before the committee on legal affairs by deputy commissioner of police criminal investigations department Byemba Musole, said the argument for the removal of section 37 was that the penal code already provided for the offence but it must be noted that in terms of penalty, the abolished section provided stiffer punishment and was broad because it provided for the prosecution of beneficiaries whether directly or indirectly.
"In the Penal Code, if gain was not proved, the offence of abuse of authority was treated as a misdemeanor. But if gain was proved then it was treated as a felony. However, section 37 treated the offence of abuse of authority as a felony whether the public officer directly gained or not," Libongani said.
She is the first female Inspector General of Police who was appointed this week taking over from Dr Martin Malama who has been deployed in the foreign service.
She said the section was also broad in the manner it categorised circumstances under which a public officer would be charged with possession of unexplained property.
And Libongani said the provisions of the Procurement Act No.12 of 2008 were not water tight to deter corruption because the process was too long.
Libongani said because the approval was centralised, the delays in approving tenders may lead to public officers being bribed to facilitate the quicker processing of tenders.
"It would be prudent if Zambia Public Procurement Authority decentralised its operations to provinces. Ministries sometimes have their allocations returned to the Treasury because they could not get tender authority to expend their funds, "she said.
Libongani said if the Zambia Police was focused fully on fighting corruption, it would create duplicity and possible conflicts with the Anti Corruption Commission.
She said corruption was a complex crime and called on the government to establish an institution that would train officers in investigating the vice.
Libongani also called on the government to improve and harmonise conditions of service for the police to match those of other investigative agencies.
Labels: ACC, BRIBERY, INSPECTOR GENERAL
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President Sata fires Dr Martin Malama and Regis Phiri, posts the two into foreign service
TIME PUBLISHED - Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 1:28 pm
President Michael Sata has with immediate effect removed Inspector General of Police Martin Malama and Zambia Security Intelligence Services Director General Regis Phiri of their positions. This is contained in a press statement made available to the media by the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah.
The Statement did not mention reasons for the removal of the two service chiefs. Mr Michael Sata has appointed Mr. Martin Mwanambale as Director-General of the Zambia Security Intelligence Services (ZSIS) and Ms. Stella Libongani as Inspector-General of Police.
Mr. Mwanambale and Ms Libongani replace Mr. Regis Phiri and Dr Martin Malama respectively. The Head of State has deployed the two ex-service chiefs into the Foreign Service.
This development makes Ms. Libongani the first female Inspector General of Police in Zambia’s history.
The President expressed gratitude to Mr. Phiri and Dr Malama for their unflinching loyalty, hard work and dedication to him as Commander-in-Chief and the country in general during their distinguished service as heads of these relevantsecurity wings.
And President Sata has further appointed Mr. Samuel Nkhoma and Mr. Peter Chingaipe as Deputy Director-General of the Zambia Security Intelligence Services and Deputy Inspector General of Police correspondingly.
The Head of State says he was confident that the two senior security officers will perform to his expectations and that of the Zambian people in general.
Labels: GEORGE CHELLAH, INSPECTOR GENERAL, MICHAEL SATA, ZSIS
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IG sets up team to probe corruption
By Kombe Chimpinde
Mon 17 Oct. 2011, 13:20 CAT
Dr Martin Malama says that he has constituted a team of police officers to thoroughly investigate all criminal cases recently presented before the police following President Michael Sata's directive to sweep the country of corruption.
In an interview, newly-appointed Inspector General of Police, Dr Malama, said the public should expect a number of people to be summoned to help with investigations on cases before the team.
"I believe, within a short period of time, the nation will be kept abreast with our findings, immediately we conclude our investigations. However, we are not naming any names. All I can say is that investigations so far are quite detailed and they will be presented to the courts soon," Dr Malama said.
He said the police would not spare any of those found wanting in all the criminal cases regardless of their status in society.
"I was just looking at the Constitution of this Republic, there is no one who is above the law. The police is looking at many cases and the nation will be kept abreast. For whoever we call, according to the Constitution, there are avenues in which anybody required by the police which must be followed," Dr Malama said.
"The normal standard procedure will be followed and the public should be assured that we will sweep this country clean."
He said currently, the Zambia Police Force had assigned over 60 officers who were dedicated to various cases working round the clock.
"In addition to many others, there are so many people being summoned while some will be summoned in the near future to ensure that investigations are concluded as soon as possible. Many will start appearing in court and all this will be done where evidence is available. It will not be persecution but it will be merely prosecution of cases that the courts will deem fit and our competent courts will be able to direct them," said Dr Malama.
President Sata, during the swearing in of Dr Malama as Inspector General, urged the latter to sweep the country clean of corruption because there were too many instances of corruption including at State House.
Labels: INSPECTOR GENERAL
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Malama is new IG
By Bob Sianjalika
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has appointed Copperbelt police commanding officer Martin Malama as the new Inspector General of police and Amos Malupenga as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism.
The president has also retired Zesco Managing Director (MD) Ernest Mupwaya in national interest and replaced him with Cyprian Chitundu. Mr Mupwaya had been Zesco MD since May 2010.
Dr Malama takes over from Francis Kabonde who had been in office since March 2009 while Mr Malupenga, who until his appointment was the managing editor for the Post Newspapers, takes over from Sam Phiri, who was appointed Information PS towards the end of last year.
The president said Mr Mupwaya was employed corruptly and should, therefore, not be kept at ZESCO. Mr Sata instructed the new police command to work extra hard and root out corruption in all public offices including at State House.
He said it was saddening that most Zambians were unable to get better services from the Government because of the rampant corruption going on. Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony at State House yesterday, President Sata said he did not want any corrupt money for the ruling Patriotic Front campaign but wanted all Zambians to benefit from their resources.
Others sworn-in yesterday were Laban Mwenya (Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication), Fredson Yamba (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance), Elywin Chomba (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health), Ing'utu Suba (Permanent Secretary, Southern Province), Evaristo Mwila (senior private secretary in the office of the vice-president) and Alfred Chipoya (senior private secretary).
Mr Sata said the levels of corruption in the country were alarming because even some people guarding him as Head of State were involved in some corrupt activities. “We need to sweep out the corruption. Even some people guarding me have benefited from corruption,” he said.
Labels: FRANCIS KABONDE, INSPECTOR GENERAL
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IG is a suspected criminal – TIZ
By Agness Changala
Fri 11 June 2010, 08:00 CAT
TRANSPREACNY International Zambia has said Inspector General of police Francis Kabonde is a suspected criminal.
And Lungu has said Director of Public Prosecution (DDP) Chalwe Mchenga has exhibited high levels of incompetence in the case where health deputy minister Dr Solomon Musonda shot at and wounded a PF cadre in his constituency.
In an interview yesterday, TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu said Kabonde was a suspected criminal because he was being investigated by the state.
“The biggest problem is that Kabonde is a suspected criminal himself who is suspected of stealing and as a result he is being investigated by the state,” he said.
Lungu said it was for this reason that Kabonde was trying to cover up for the double standards and unprofessionalism that was being exhibited by his officers.
He said the political favours that Kabonde was seeking would soon catch up with him because he had put many Zambians’ lives in danger. Lungu observed that the police had become extremely desperate.
“Zambians will be pushed to take the law in their own hands because of failure by the police to act professional,” Lungu said.
He said there were a lot of professional police officers who could make a difference adding that Kabonde belonged to the unprofessional ones.
He called on President Rupiah to restore order in the police service because it was becoming a danger to society.
And Lungu said Director of Public Prosecution (DDP) Chalwe Mchenga had exhibited high levels of incompetence in the case where health deputy minister Dr Solomon Musonda shot at and wounded a PF cadre in his constituency.
Lungu said when police recorded a warn and caution statement from UPND Solwezi member of Parliament Watson Lumba, police did not seek Mchenga’s consent but just effected an arrest.
“We are seeing matters involving pro-government people not being arrested while those with different views from the government, we see people being arrested with hasty speed,” Lungu said.
He said Dr Musonda should be arrested as soon as possible because police had every right as provided for by law.
Lungu said Mchenga’s duty was to prosecute and not effect an arrest.
Labels: CORRUPTION, FRANCIS KABONDE, GOODWELL LUNGU, INSPECTOR GENERAL, TIZ
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Rupiah is a blood-thirsty monster, says Hichilema
By Speedwell Mupuchi in Mufumbwe
Fri 30 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
Top: An MMD cadre assaulted during a clash with UPND cadres on Wednesday, bottom: A cadre who police assaulted at a UPND camp on Wednesday - Pictures by Abel Mambwe
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has charged that President Rupiah Banda is a blood thirsty monster using violence to make his political position alive.
And President Rupiah Banda has charged that Hichilema is possessed by the devil.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde said he cannot allow Hichilema to point at him.
Commenting on the violence by MMD cadres and police brutality against UPND members, Hichilema blamed President Banda for the violence in Mufumbwe. He said Zambia was being driven down a tube and that the violence experienced was unprecedented.
Hichilema said the MMD top leadership was perpetuating violence.
“Since Rupiah Banda was here, the violence has worsened. The police are not helping out. When they help, they assist the MMD in beating and assaulting people. This happened when our member’s minibus was smashed in full view of the police and the police even looted the goods in the minibus,” Hichilema said.
He charged that President Banda was allowing violence to keep his political position alive.
“The MMD leadership is on the verge of commencing elimination of its political competitors. The incident in Mufumbwe has moved our suspicion levels to specificity - they tried to kill (Charles) Kakoma; the attack on Lumba (the campaign manager) are a confirmation that we have entered a police state,” he said.
Hichilema said the violence, if left unchecked, would make the country ungovernable more so as the country move towards the 2011 elections.
“Zambians now must know what type of leader Rupiah Banda is. Those who were doubting our concern that Rupiah Banda is a dictator and was introducing one party dictatorship have now seen,” Hichilema said.
“It’s up to the Zambian people to rise against this. We must secure our country for our children and their children’s children. We must not fear because if we do, this monster and dictator will grow to proportions that are likely to create civil strife in the country.”
Hichilema said the earlier Zambians came together to stop “this blood-thirsty monster”, the better the country’s future.
“This is the time to unite against the dragon. This is not time to say those being attacked are UPND, it’s not me. When the monster and dragon comes, it will be too late to defend yourself,” advised Hichilema.
He condemned the MMD and police brutality against UPND cadres who they followed at their campaign centre.
“One of our colleagues has lost an eye,” he said.
Hichilema said if President Banda provided leadership as head of state, the violence would not have escalated to levels where people were losing their eyes. He said that the history of struggles indicate that when there were threats to society as it was now, by the MMD, society came together to stop the evil they faced.
Hichilema urged the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to take interest in what was happening in Zambia because in Zimbabwe and Kenya, what happened there was sparked by incidences like what happened in Mufumbwe.
Police recorded a total of six casualties in Wednesday’s violence in which a UPND cadre lost his eye after police severely beat him and four MMD cadres who sustained deep cuts in their heads after being beaten by the security officers.
Acting police deputy spokesperson Moses Suwali told journalists that police had not yet received details of what caused the violence.
He also said no arrest was made although dockets were opened and warned that police would move in on the perpetrators and arrest the offenders.
Suwali said more police officers were being deployed in Mufumbwe to quell the violence.
Tension in Mufumbwe had been high since MMD deployed thugs from Lusaka. The MMD thugs had been camped right in town and had been terrorising the locals and the opposition.
In Wednesday’s incident, a UPND Copperbelt treasurer Christopher Mwape went to buy drinks at one of the shops.
The MMD thugs identified the minibus as belonging to the UPND and immediately started smashing its windows and destroyed its tyres in full view of riot police officers deployed to maintain law and order.
Mwape helplessly watched his minibus being destroyed and reported the matter to the police.
Copperbelt UPND chairperson Elisha Matambo explained that his party’s cadres who witnessed the MMD thugs smashing the minibus wanted to respond but police restrained them.
“One youth was taking a bath behind the building of our candidate and the MMD thugs spotted him and they went and knifed him,” said Matambo. “Our youths were infuriated and they again attempted to stone the MMD until police descended on them and chased them into Maikulile Compound.”
Meanwhile, police just stood and watched the MMD thugs armed with catapults, stones and sticks move from their position to near where the UPND campaign centre was and started stoning.
Riot police officers watched for about three to five minutes before firing teargas to quell the situation. The police officers from Kamfinsa who got fed up with the MMD cadres’ behaviour caught four of them whom they beat severely and they sustained cuts in their heads.
Those arrested and injured were taken to Mufumbwe police to get medical reports for them to seek medical attention.
While giving a statement at police station over the smashing of his vehicle, two MMD thugs identified as Patrick Kabwe and Derrick Lungu, who were among those that sustained injuries in the violence, were brought in and Mwape identified them as the ones behind the smashing of his minibus.
Later, some unknown people followed the injured cadres at Mufumbwe Hospital where they beat them. It was later heard all those injured in the violence had discharged themselves from Mufumbwe Hospital where they were admitted.
And concluding his campaign for MMD candidate Mulondwe Muzungu at Kamabuta Middle Basic School on Wednesday, President Banda said a leader must not espouse violence. He blamed Hichilema for violence in Mushima area where MMD cadres burnt churches but the MMD twisted the facts in order to frame the UPND.
President Banda said he was condemning the violence and that he expected Hichilema to do the same.
“Maybe I am wasting my time since he is a partner with Sata that you are calling here Satana. It may be that the spirit of Satan has gone into him, that is why he is so vicious. He is so upset with people that they are willing to listen to us and not to him,” President Banda said.
“You can see the young man is possessed with the devil. How come he is has gone round torching churches? Three churches were destroyed in Mushima, they ran over the legs of people with their vehicles.”
President Banda said he had heard Hichilema at his rally asking his supporters that if they (Hichilema, President Banda and Muzungu) were in a race who would win and that the supporters responded that he (Hichilema) would win.
“This is not a race for running. This is politics. … I have stood with Hakainde and I defeated him. This kind of race as Kenneth Kaunda would say ‘wacepa sana’, I will overrun him,” he said.
“Let’s say we have a physical race, myself, himself and he is holding hands with Sata. I will beat them because he will be pulling Sata. Sata will be coughing, because he has been smoking all his life and I will win.”
President Banda said the MMD would defeat the PF-UPND Pact.
He also told the people that when they voted for him, they did not expect him to be a magician who would to work within 90 days to do everything.
He said Hichilema would never be president of Zambia.
And Kabonde said he would not allow Hichilema to point at him in the manner depicted by The Post picture last week.
Briefing the press in Mufumbwe, Kabonde, to suit President Banda’s position, said he saw churches burnt by cadres suspected to be UPND who had gone to the area to campaign. He said the situation in Mufumbwe had became worse as some people went to attack Charles Kakoma and UPND cadres reacted by besieging the police.
“And around them were MMD cadres. It put the police and myself in a precarious situation in the sense that if we took action, a serious action then could have resulted in death because the two groups were ready to fight, even in the face of the police,” Kabonde said.
“There was stone throwing against each group. Some people were pushed away. I personally went to push the group that surrounded the station. I have a lot of experience, there is no way I can go into hiding.”
Kabonde said journalists should never exaggerate issues.
“Even the picture that was taken depicting that Mr. Hichilema was pointing at me, that was never pointed at me. It was taken at an angle to appear that he pointed at me. I wouldn’t allow him pointing at me. Even Hichilema himself if you ask him will say that. I am not his subordinate. I am a national leader,” Kabonde said.
Kabonde pledged to ensure yesterday’s election had legitimacy. He also said police would deploy between 15 and 20 police officers at every polling station to ensure elections were conducted in a conducive atmosphere.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, CADRES, CORRUPTION, FRANCIS KABONDE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, INSPECTOR GENERAL, MOSES SUWALI, RUPIAH BANDA
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COMMENT - Now if only this was happening in Zimbabwe, then the likes of the BBC would be interested in covering this. But then the MMD is pro-business, so...
The violence in Mufumbwe
By The Editor
Sun 25 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THE leadership of the MMD in general, and Rupiah Banda in particular, should be blamed for the violence and atrocious acts by their party cadres in Mufumbwe.
The people who are wreaking havoc in Mufumbwe are not residents of that humble area; they are not sons of those humble people. They are thugs hired and transported from the urban areas to Mufumbwe by the leadership of the MMD.
Looking at the type of people whom the MMD has transported to Mufumbwe, it is clear what their job there is. That’s not the type of people one can hire for a peaceful and respectful election campaign. Those are thugs who can only be hired for only one thing: thuggery. To expect a peaceful campaign from such elements is like expecting to reap tomatoes where one has planted onions.
It is dishonesty of the highest order for the leadership of the MMD to deny responsibility for the conduct of those thugs they have hired to brutalise the peaceful people of Mufumbwe and force them to vote for MMD. Those thugs did not transport themselves to Mufumbwe.
They were hired and taken there by those with money and who control the affairs of MMD. Those hooligans have no capacity to raise money even for a bus fare to Mufumbwe, let alone to pay for where to sleep and buy themselves food while on that trail of thuggery.
In our comment yesterday, we pointed out that Rupiah was encouraging violence in the country through his statements. Rupiah’s statements and attacks on those he detests are nothing but a clarion call to violence. And what we are seeing in Mufumbwe is the result of Rupiah’s intolerance and hatred for fellow citizens who do not kowtow to his dictates.
Rupiah and his minions do not recognise the fact that this country is a constitutional multiparty state where the views and political activities of the opposition are of equal importance to those of the governing party. In a multiparty political dispensation, the political activities of the opposition are not illegal. What we are seeing now is nothing but a warning to what is likely to befall this nation next year if nothing is done to put Rupiah and his minions on the right path.
As we have stated before, no doctrine, no principle or proclaimed political position and no election campaign can justify atrocious acts such as the ones meted by MMD thugs against Charles Kakoma and his colleagues in the opposition UPND. No crime can be committed in the name of electioneering or indeed in the name of politics.
The leadership of the MMD was warned by the police that the cadres they were bringing in would likely cause the breach of peace from the way they were conducting themselves. It was very clear to the police what type of people the MMD was bringing to Mufumbwe but could do nothing about it. This is not because the law is not on the side of the police.
They had all the legal powers to stop these criminal elements from entering Mufumbwe to commit crimes. But politics would not allow the police to do so. The Inspector General of Police is serving at the pleasure of Rupiah. And if he is seen to be a stumbling block to Rupiah’s violent political schemes, he would not last in that job for a second longer. Rupiah would get rid of him.
And Francis Kabonde knows this very well. He is not the people’s servant but Rupiah’s. And for Kabonde, loyalty to Rupiah, pleasing Rupiah takes precedence over obligations to the people. We say this because we all know that Kabonde is hanging by a thread to his job. A man who is under investigations by the police, Drug Enforcement Commission and the Anti Corruption Commission for the role he might have played in a questionable deal involving the purchase of automobiles would have been suspended from performing his duties. But he hasn’t been because he is of value to Rupiah.
It doesn’t make sense for Kabonde to be in Mufumbwe and to be seen running away from MMD cadres in broad daylight with the force of police officers he commands. It is clear that Kabonde and his men are not in a position to control MMD cadres when they turn violent unless Rupiah tells him to do so. But where will this type of policing; where will this type of politics leave the country? Total anarchy is the only discernible ending.
We again remind Rupiah about the importance of the rule of law; about the need for equality before the law. The right to equality before the law, or equal protection before the law as it is often phrased, is fundamental to any just and democratic society.
Whether political ally of Rupiah or a supporter of the opposition – all are entitled to equal protection before the law. The police, and indeed Rupiah himself, should be required to deal evenly and equally with all citizens regardless of their political affiliation. No one should be above the law. This is important because when laws are obeyed, both law and democracy are served.
There’s need for Rupiah and those who command the police on his behalf to realise that the power they hold has the potential for abuse and tyranny. And no democratic society should tolerate Rupiah’s abuse of the police and the criminal behaviour of the thugs his party has hired to terrorise, intimidate, humiliate the residents of Mufumbwe and those from the opposition who are campaigning there.
The police must have the power to maintain order and punish criminal acts regardless of who is involved or what political party they belong to. But in Mufumbwe, MMD cadres were acting as they pleased, walking into a police station and intimidating everyone. Imagine what would have happened if those doing this were from the opposition! Would the police have behaved this way?
The rules and procedures by which the police enforce laws must be public and explicit, not secret, arbitrary or subject to political manipulation by those in the ruling party.
If this behaviour continues unabated, by the time Rupiah leaves office, we will have no police and other law enforcement agencies to talk about. Today even the Anti Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission cannot be said to be free from the political pressures that are being exerted on the police. They are also busy harassing political opponents of the regime while protecting Rupiah’s friends and partners. This is not the way to run a country.
This is not a recipe for law and order; it a recipe for anarchy and chaos in the nation. This is the route Rupiah is taking us on. We cannot continue to accept to be led on this path of self-destruction. We want a peaceful Zambia; a Zambia that is genuinely multiparty, tolerant and respectful of political plurality that democracy entails. Democracy is only deepened where there is free will of the people; where the people freely choose their leaders through the ballot box and not with their blood.
We also want to remind Rupiah and his thugs that although they are being allowed to harass others without being taken on, they shouldn’t cheat themselves that they have the monopoly of force, of violence. Violence begets violence and in the end we all lose.
Labels: FRANCIS KABONDE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, INSPECTOR GENERAL, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Violent MMD cadres force police IG into hiding
By Staff Reporters
Sun 25 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema warning Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde over the violence that MMD cadres are causing in Mufumbwe, MMD thugs assaulted UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma and raided the police station. Right, Kakoma after he was assaulted by MMD thugs
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde was yesterday forced into hiding after MMD cadres armed with catapults and stones started stoning everyone at the station in Mufumbwe.
And the MMD cadres yesterday morning attacked and assaulted UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma, further heightening tension ahead of the April 29 Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election.
Meanwhile, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema blasted police officers at Mufumbwe police station, threatening to physically beat them up for not taking action against the MMD thugs.
Kabonde arrived at the police station just as Hichilema, North-Western Province minister Daniel Kalenga and provincial police commnading officer Fabian Katima had just concluded a meeting to resolve the violent situation and other outstanding contentious issues.
Kabonde said as Inspector General of Police, the parties should leave everything in his hands. He assured that the police were on top of things and would contain the situation.
As he was addressing the parties, over 50 MMD cadres with catapults and stones approached the police station and started stoning everyone including police officers.
Kabonde could not order the riot police officers at the police station to arrest the MMD cadres but instead ran into an office, fearing the stones from the catapults.
The MMD cadres when approaching the police station chanted: “Boma ni Boma. Tamwalale lelo (government is government, you won’t sleep today).”
The MMD cadres smashed a passenger window for a UPND official’s car. One of the MMD cadres who appeared to be the ring leader even walked into the police station and the police officers had to plead with him to leave.
As this was happening, UPND cadres responded to the attacks prompting police led by Katiba to approach the MMD cadres and pleaded with them to stop.
The MMD cadres retreated, later re-grouped and headed towards the UPND camp within Mufumbwe boma. The cadres were later seen walking along Zambezi Road shouting ‘boma ni boma’.
After the meeting at the police station, Kabonde told journalists: “I am not going to say anything here, you saw what was happening yourself.”
Yesterday morning MMD cadres attacked and assaulted UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma.
Kakoma said he was sleeping in his room at Kamondo Guesthouse when machete wielding MMD thugs, some of them in dreadlocks, knocked on his door and forcibly opened it and attacked him.
“They broke the door and entered.
One of them had a knife, a rasta and he aimed at me but he missed me. They started beating me and pushed me out of the room. I tried to escape but they chased after me until a police officer rescued me,” narrated Kakoma who sustained cuts in his hands and one of his knees.
The cadres also allegedly grabbed Kakoma’s briefcase and bag containing over K1 million and went away with them.
The MMD cadres also attacked a Mr. Kanyakula and UPND North-Western Province chairperson Col Grandson Katambi.
“They stormed our room with pangas (machetes) and slashers and forced us out, they stole my phone,” said Kanyakula.
Kakoma reported the matter at Mufumbwe Police Station.
A short-while later, Hichilema arrived and blasted police for being passive and letting MMD rake havoc in the area. He warned that if the situation would not be controlled, there would be no by-elections on Thursday.
“I am gonna blow someone here, take me to the cells if you want. I am not leaving this place,” the highly charged and emotional Hichilema told a Mr. P. J. Mutale in the office of the Mufumbwe officer-in-charge.
Mutale tried to ask Hichilema to sit down but he rebuffed the request saying: “Don’t f***ing tell me to sit down!”
Hichilema banged on the table and shouted: “What the hell are you doing here? You are bringing commandos here to attack people! This is a democracy. We reported cases here but you do nothing. Look at that man (Kakoma) look at what they have done to him, there will be no election here. We are trying to help you (Police officers) and you are fighting us.
“Your salaries are nothing and we are trying to get you out of this situation and you are letting these guys attack us. We know William Banda brought thugs in the night in buses and we are trailing them.”
Hichilema said attack confirmed that MMD was out to kill the opposition leaders and he was particularly targetted. He said the development was disgusting and unacceptable and should be stopped.
Hichilema said the MMD had lost the election already and the violence was part of their desperation.
Hichilema and Mutale, who was calm, and other officers held a brief meeting before they were joined by North Western police commanding officer Katiba and much later Kabonde.
While at the police station, UPND cadres identified about three MMD cadres clad in police uniforms and raised concern over them.
Some of the cadres nearly wanted to assault the ‘officers’ but they were protected.
“These cadres are impersonating the police and you bring such people here, what do you expect? We are not scared, we are going to take them on,” said Manenga Bwalya.
UPND cadres sang solidarity songs and were joined by Mufumbwe residents who live near the boma.
As the meeting of the stakeholders went on at the police station, outside the UPND saw some of the cadres who allegedly attacked Kakoma and they charged against them.
The MMD cadres defended themselves using catapults and stones.
After the meeting, the MMD cadres started advancing towards the police station while throwing stones.
This was happening in Kabonde’s full view. Riot police officers who were at the police station then went after the MMD cadres.
By press time, the violence was still going on. The situation is very volatile. The UPND candidate Kamondo and UPND Copperbelt chairperson Elisha Matambo were stoned and were by press time locked in Mufumbwe police officer-in-charge’s office.
Earlier, Kamondo’s house was also raided by MMD cadres. He had to hide in the ceiling board of his house.
It was not immediately clear whether or not the police arrested any of the MMD cadres behind the violence.
Meanwhile, Kabonde after the meeting warned that police would deal firmly with the cadres.
He assured political players that police would be impartial and assured the UPND that MMD cadres camped in poling stations would be removed starting yesterday.
“There is no need for violence, elections are ending on 29th,” said Kabonde.
However, Kabonde refused to comment on MMD cadres clad in police uniforms.
MMD campaign manager Daniel Kalenga said he would talk to his cadres to preach a message of peace. He said he would not protect perpetrators of violence in his camp as their campaign manager or provincial minister. Kalenga said he regretted the violent incidences.
UPND campaign manager Watson Lumba said UPND and MMD agreed that the MMD should move out polling stations.
Commenting on the violence, PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said his party was extremely worried about the re-emergence of archaic politics of hooliganism, insults and violence.
“Politics is about service and if a person genuinely wants to serve they will restrain themselves and their supporters from attacking verbally or physically anyone who they want to serve. The re-emergence of politics of violence is directly associated with the entrance of Rupiah Banda to State House,” Lubinda said.
“Even during Chiluba’s reign, we did not see this level of violence, let alone during Levy’s reign. We have had many by-elections, we have not heard about knifing each other.
This is a new phenomenon which came about after 2008 presidential by-election. After the by-election we saw the re-entry of one William Banda. I have no doubt this violence is perpetuated by Rupiah Banda and William Banda.”
Lubinda warned violence perpetrators that PF and UPND were not short of violent cadres.
“We have many violent cadres whom we have been restraining for a long time. This violence and making of human blood which is being led by RB and his relative William Banda shall not be received by us with folded arms; we shall receive it with equal force and Mr. Rupiah Banda must be advised even at his age that he must be willing to receive advise from others. Violence begets violence.
If he doesn’t stop William Banda and his gang of thugs, we will have no choice but to match him with violence. Rupiah Banda should be reminded he is custodian of Zambia’s security and as such it is his Constitutional duty to protect the security and sanctity of human life in Zambia,” he said.
Lubinda said attacking Kakoma in his sleep and cutting him open cannot be tolerated. He said if President Banda wanted to re-introduce the kind of politics he was used to as a UNIP youth, he should be reminded that today’s youths were of computer age, and not stones and knives.
Meanwhile, Hichilema told residents of Musonweji, Kabipupu and Kalengwa Mine that President Banda and the MMD candidate Mulondwe Muzungu were tired.
He told them MMD was impotent and could not deliver development.
Scores of Kabipupu and Kalengwa Mine waited for Hichilema and his entourage till in the night when he addressed them.
They nearly detained him for the night by falsely claiming they had seen MMD cadres in the area.
And President Banda has been told that he will not have a nice exit befitting his old age if he does not honestly denounce the violence that is being instigated by his agents in Mufumbwe.
But the MMD had insisted that it was the opposition UPND cadres that fanned violent acts in Mufumbwe.
Commenting on the stabbing of Kakoma by suspected MMD cadres in Mufumbwe yesterday, Siavonga UPND member of parliament Douglas Syakalima said the MMD should accept that they were losing the by-election.
“I want Rupiah Banda himself to denounce the violence. He is the one who is supposed to start that,” Syakalima said. “It is with the person whom he reveres most, William Banda, and he is the one who has been causing chaos everywhere. The President should condemn that chaos.”
Syakalima said President Banda and William Banda should be reminded that the UNIP mentality they were trying to bring into Zambian politics was archaic.
“We are in the 21st century where those things they used to do under UNIP are long gone,” Syakalima said. “When power is slipping off your hand it is always advisable to get off the stage rather than waiting to get anything by force and this is a timely advise to the head of state.”
Syakalima said President Banda would lose more dangerously than UNIP did in 1991 if he continued on such a violent path.
“As an old man, let him have a nice exit,” he said. “Kakoma was stabbed. I was just talking to him. He is just coming from the hospital.”
But MMD acting provincial chairman Peter Patel, who confirmed having received a report that Kakoma had been roughed up by MMD cadres, said the people behind the violence in Mufumbwe were UPND cadres.
“What has happened is that we decided that we will have a peaceful, non-violent campaign being a rural area but right from the start the opposition have brought people from the Copperbelt,” Patel said. “They are the ones behind the violence. They are even arrested and it has been found that all those arrested are from the Copperbelt.”
Patel said he had been told that Kakoma had been beaten up but he could not confirm whether he had been stabbed.
“It’s the people from the outside who are instigating the violence,” Patel said. “It is very easy for a villager to be intimidated.”
Labels: CADRES, FRANCIS KABONDE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, INSPECTOR GENERAL
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Mangani explains why IG hasn’t stepped aside
By Margaret Mtonga
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
HOME affairs minister Lameck Mangani has said Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde will only be asked to step down from his position at the recommendation of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).
Mangani yesterday said it was premature for stakeholders to ask Kabonde to step down from his position because the ACC was still carrying out investigations. He said the ACC had interviewed various people in connection with the procurement of escort motor vehicles and other equipment.
“In case of the Inspector General of Police, my ministry is still waiting for information on the progress of the case from the ACC.
Inspector General of Police is being investigated in his alleged involvement in the over K1 billion from the instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement a company based in South Africa,” Mangani said during a press briefing at his office. “I wish to inform you that there is a standard procedure of dealing with such cases. Once the investigations have reached a certain level, then ACC shall inform the ministry concerned of all whose involvement in the case may require further action.”
A combined team of ACC, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Zambia Police and Intelligence officers last week recorded a warn and caution statement from Kabonde in connection with unaccounted for K1 billion overpaid to a South African traffic equipment and car dealer.
On Thursday, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) asked Kabonde to step aside as investigations in his alleged involvement in the overpayment of K1 billion to a South African company were going on.
TIZ president Reuben Lifuka appealed to Kabonde's professional conscience to step aside for the betterment of himself and the Zambia Police Service.
And Mangani said the clause that was recently adopted by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) which required a presidential candidate to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree for one to contest in an election was not discriminatory.
“This is a good move because right now it will make people to aspire for higher education. The difficult thing about this new clause is that people are just thinking in line of the 2010 elections. This will help the would-be president to be able to articulate issues that affect the country,” Mangani said.
He urged both the young and old to ensure that they attained degree qualifications.
“So Mr Sata still has a chance to become a degree holder. Currently there are no specifications on what kind of a degree one should hold, it is just a degree in any field,” said Mangani.
On Wednesday, the NCC adopted a clause that requires a presidential candidate to have a minimum of bachelor's degree for one to be eligible to contest the Republican presidency.
Labels: FRANCIS KABONDE, INSPECTOR GENERAL, LAMECK MANGANI
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Threats of violence
By Editor
Fri 22 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
IT is very difficult to understand how the Inspector General of Police can fail to realise that threatening violence is a crime. It is embarrassing to our entire law enforcement system that the Inspector General of Police can say that threatening violence is not a crime he can arrest someone for. Was he saying this out of ignorance?
Or had he forgotten what the law is on threatening violence? We don’t think the Inspector General of Police is ignorant about what the law is on threatening violence. We also don’t think he had forgotten what the law is on threatening violence. We think this was simply a case of trying to protect ruling MMD cadres from being arrested and prosecuted for threatening to gang-rape Edith Nawakwi over her statements on governance issues. This is a case of selective justice.
The rule of law is breaking down in our country.
We say this because there can be no rule of law without the right to equality before the law, or equal protection of the law. Whether political ally of those in power, of the leadership of the ruling MMD or opponent, all should be entitled to equal protection before the law.
It is interesting to contrast the way the police reacted to the alleged threat of violence against two former University of Zambia student union leaders who now speak for those in government and the ruling party. The police was very quick to react to alleged threats of violence on these two young men by members of the opposition Patriotic Front.
The position quickly changed from that of threatening violence not being an offence to it being an offence simply because those on the receiving end were allies or agents of those in power and the alleged offending parties are their political opponents.
This is not the way to run our law enforcement system, our police. This is not the way to run a country. We know that no one can guarantee that life will treat everyone equally, and no one has the responsibility to do so. However, under no circumstances should the state and its agents impose additional inequalities on our people; they should be required to deal evenly and equally with all our people. No one should be above the law.
It is sad to see MMD cadres go around committing crimes with impunity. Chris Chalwe, Lusaka Province MMD youth chairman, has gotten away with a lot of violent actions against opponents of the MMD leadership.
It had to take a lot of pressure and concerted efforts to get Chalwe in court over violence against a Post reporter and his colleague from the Times of Zambia. Chris is still in court over violence and today he has continued threatening with violence innocent citizens trying to exercise their freedom of expression and speech. Why is Chris behaving this way? Is Chris an unrepentant criminal using the cover of politics to commit crimes with impunity? We don’t think so.
We actually think Chris is a nice guy, a friendly person. But he has turned to this brutish behaviour because he is being rewarded for it; he is earning a living from harassing and being cruel, inhuman to the political opponents of those in power, of the MMD leadership. As long as it continues to be rewarding to commit crimes in defence or in support of those in power, Chris and other young people will always hire themselves out to do such evil things.
It is also equally rewarding for the Inspector General of Police to turn a blind eye to the criminal acts of people like Chris because they have the support of his ‘employers’, the appointing authorities. Actually, Chris himself is part of the leadership of the ruling MMD. And the Inspector General of Police needs to be in good terms with him to survive in his office or soon he himself will become a victim of Chris’ violence. If he goes for Chris, he risks losing his job as Inspector General of Police.
This also explains why the same police that has declared threatening violence not to be a criminal offence is making a big issue out of allegations of threatening violence by members of the Patriotic Front. It benefits the Inspector General of Police to go for opposition members because that is in line with the interests of those in power.
What we are seeing is not new or strange. In every society throughout history, those who administer criminal justice systems hold power with the potential for abuse and tyranny. But no democratic society can tolerate such abuses.
The state must have the power to maintain order and punish criminal acts, but the rules and procedures by which the state enforces its laws must not be arbitrary or subject to political manipulation by the state.
There should be no dispensing power vested in anyone that would relieve a person from the duties and processes of the law. There is hardly a more powerful weapon which can be abused in the hands of a corrupt government than that of letting its supporters who commit crimes go without being arrested or being prosecuted. It is also common for this government to abuse the prosecution process by harassing their political opponents through unjustifiable arrests and prosecutions. This should not be tolerated.
And it shouldn’t be forgotten that our criminal justice system will only be effective to the degree that its administration is judged by our people to be fair and protective of individual rights, as well as of the public interest.
As for Chris, he shouldn’t cheat himself that he will get away forever with crimes against the political opponents of his masters.
One day his handlers will have to leave government and he will be left to face those he harassed, those he abused without the protection of the state. The life he is living is dangerous and its time he changed his ways and started respecting the rights of his fellow citizens. There is need for civility in politics. Politics, after all, is not supposed to be seen as a fight for survival, but a competition to serve one’s people. It’s understandable, for Chris and his masters, being in government is a means of survival. They are not there to serve the people but to be served. They can’t see life away from government.
Political competitors don’t necessarily have to like each other, but they must tolerate one another and acknowledge that each has a legitimate and important role to play. Moreover, the ground rules of our politics must encourage tolerance and civility in all that we do; in all our campaigns. We should all cooperate in solving the common problems of our country regardless of who is in power. But this is not possible when a corrupt clique seizes state apparatus and starts to use it to enrich itself at the exclusion of others.
Chris and his masters should know that violence of any form is not only a crime but it is also dangerous because it can breed counter-violence. People who live by violence are no better than animals. We can only hope that one day Chris and those he works for will reach a stage when they realise that the use of violence of any form against anyone is something that puts them next to animals. Chris should target his anger at the problems that the great majority of our people today face: the lack of daily sustenance.
Politics is an area of great importance for promoting justice, peace, development and community among all and as such, it should not be left to the impulses of emotion and passion. Politics need people with very high credibility and not people with criminal minds who see political differences as opportunities for engaging in violent actions. We appeal to Chris to change his ways and start to see political differences as opportunities for more and more discourse and not for exchanging blows and threats of gang-raping.
Labels: CADRES, EDITH NAWAKWI, FRANCIS KABONDE, INSPECTOR GENERAL, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Kabonde should step aside to pave way for investigations – TIZ
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 22 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia yesterday asked Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde to step aside as investigations in his alleged involvement in the overpayment of K1 billion to a South African traffic equipment and car dealer are going on.
Commenting on revelations that a combined team of Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Zambia Police and the Zambia Security Intelligence Service (ZSIS) recorded a warn and caution statement from Kabonde in connection with unaccounted for K1 billion overpaid to South Africa's Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Limited, TIZ president Reuben Lifuka appealed to Kabonde's professional conscience to step aside for the betterment of himself and the Zambia police.
“Primarily, our concerns about what has been reported in the media is that it needs to be handled in a very professional manner taking into consideration the position of a person concerned, the Inspector General of Police. He wields a lot of power and he can easily use his position there to, in a way, obstruct the process of the investigations,” Lifuka said.
“I think that given that position, it goes without saying that it will be appropriate for the IG to step aside and allow for unfettered investigations into the allegations that have been made against him and the former IG.”
Lifuka said Kabonde has to step aside at the earliest opportunity because this affects people's perception of the Zambia Police as being flawed with a lot of corruption.
On Wednesday last week, Kabonde appeared before a combined team of the ACC, DEC, ZSIS and Zambia Police at ACC head office in Lusaka for interrogations.
The following day, former inspector general of police Ephraim Mateyo cried during interrogation at the ACC office.
In 2006, the Zambia Police under Mateyo ordered 20 escort vehicles, 20 motorbikes, three armoured/bullet proof BMW X5 vehicles for the President from Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) but only 10 escort vehicles, 10 motorbikes and one armoured BMW X5 vehicle were delivered despite overpaying the firm by K1 billion.
Kabonde is alleged to have signed for some payments in this transaction.
But Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Limited owner Phineas Manthata told The Post on Wednesday that the Zambia Police Service owed him over 84 million rand and allegations that his firm was overpaid were “nonsense”.
Labels: ACC, FRANCIS KABONDE, INSPECTOR GENERAL, TIZ
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IG’s comments anger Nawakwi
By Patson Chilemba and Masuzyo Chakwe
Thu 21 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
FDD president Edith Nawakwi yesterday charged that it is very foolish for Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde to suggest that anyone threatening to rape her is not committing an offence. And Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso has contradicted Kabonde's position over the matter, saying it is an offence to threaten violence against other citizens.
Reacting to Kabonde's statement that there was no offence in the threat by MMD cadres to gang-rape Nawakwi, Nawakwi said whereas President Rupiah Banda and Kabonde were quick to prosecute and term Post news editor Chansa Kabwela's genuine concerns over the woman that delivered outside the University Teaching Hospital as pornography, the recent threats by the MMD thugs were sweet music to their ears.
“Ask Kabonde the IG, if someone stood up and said I'm going to gun down … and a threat to rape, what is the difference? Because there is intent to kill, that is why in court you say malice, you actually killed someone maliciously because you start by issuing a threat. In household, if someone stands up in the house and says 'I'm going to shoot you', you actually go to the police to say 'this one is threatening to shoot me.' It is a criminal offence,” Nawakwi said. “Now this foolish Kabonde, can he please define the difference. If today I stood up and said 'I'm going to shoot …,' would he actually stand up and say it is not a criminal offence?
“Because you see, this business of patronage is why every government changes these people, they are not professional. You will never have a career public service in this country as long as the appointing authority is the President. He could have answered you professionally to say 'I have not heard a complaint'. He goes beyond his professional duty to that of defining what is criminal and what is not criminal. I have been injured, and I don't expect a cop to be making a judgment.”
Nawakwi said Kabonde was not a person who could take professional positions on national matters.
“But you know, Francis Kabonde, I knew him when he was superintendant at Lusaka Central Police. One day, I was standing next to him, and we were chatting at Kafue roundabout, one minister called him to say 'why are you talking to that woman?' And he moved 14 metres and drew a cannister and threw it at me. They told him 'teargas her',” Nawakwi said. “He can't deny that. I said 'my friend, what happened?' He was so depressed, he said to me 'If I didn't do that, I was instructed to teargas. If I didn't do that, you wouldn't have found me in this office'.”
Nawakwi said Kabonde was merely paying homage to President Banda who had spread his tentacles everywhere.
She said she would lodge a formal complaint for Kabonde not to have an excuse should President Banda and his henchmen implement their threat against her.
Nawakwi said people like MMD cadre Kadobi were supposed to be behind bars.
“If a criminal associates with me, what does it tell of me? Birds of the same feathers flock together,” said Nawakwi.
Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata described Kabonde's statement as utter nonsense.
Sata said Kabonde was actually inciting violence, going by his partisan position over important national issues.
Sata said Kabonde may have even incited MMD thugs to kill Ndola diocese treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa.
And in a press statement, Kapeso noted that it was an offence to threaten violence.
“Under Section 90 of the Penal Code of the Laws of Zambia, threatening violence is a criminal offence like any other offences contained therein. In fact, any person who commits this offence is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years with hard labour,” stated Kapeso. “Any person who feels aggrieved has the right to report to any nearest police station so that investigations can commence. Where complaints are not reported to the police, it will be difficult for us to open investigations.”
Non Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) executive director Engwase Mwale said Kabonde, being the inspector general, required to take leadership in promoting peace and harmony in the country.
Mwale said the fact that the police's mandate was to promote peace and order simply meant in the public eye that they must be seen to be supporting this.
“We find it morally wrong that the IG could publicly state that threatening violence was not an offence,” she said.
Mwale urged Kabonde to refrain from taking the stance he had taken as he was seen to be supporting violence publicly rather than abating it.
She called on Kabonde to rescind his stance and take up his rightful position to protect ordinary citizens especially women and children.
Mwale said for the women movement, any violence threatened on one woman was violence threatened on all women.
Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) secretary general Reverend Suzanne Matale said it was shocking to hear the top cop of the land say that it was not an offence to threaten someone's life.
Rev Matale said such statements put the security of individuals at risk.
“I hope that Mr Kabonde has been misquoted. Threats of a serious nature like raping a woman and promising violence should not be taken lightly. We can only urge Mr Kabonde to take such threats seriously before it is too late,” she said.
She said one would expect that Kabonde would speak firmly and take action against threats of any kind as a top cop.
She said actions began with an idea which was then verbalised, finalised and implemented.
Rev Matale said those political cadres must be restrained from issuing threats.
“They must be stopped and in fact must be arrested and put away before they carry out their threats. Zambia stands at crossroads to either move ahead as one people in unity and peace or degenerate into a lawless society,” she said.
She said the police must take the lead in enforcing security of individuals and whole societies.
Rev Matale said to stand by as often witnessed like policemen and women do during conflict was a slap in the face of many peace loving Zambians.
“We demand that police take up their rightful role of protecting all Zambians whether they are under threat of being physically harmful or otherwise and regardless of their political affiliations,” said Rev Matale.
And Women in Law and Development in Africa (WilDAF) and Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) also registered their regret, alarm and disbelief over the statement by Chalwe.
WiLDAF regional chairperson Gladys Mutukwa and WLSA regional coordinator Matrine Chuulu stated that Chalwe's statement underscored the impunity with which women's rights had been violated without due protection from the government.
“We note with deep regret that since Sunday, there is no leader both in government or the MMD that has condemned this regressive and insulting statement. Mr Chalwe's intentions against Ms Nawakwi are an insult to the dignity of Zambian women and should render Mr Chalwe and his gang open to police probe. We wish to remind Mr Chalwe and his gang that gang rape is not only inhuman but constitutes one of the worst forms of violence against women,” they stated.
They stated that the impunity with which the statement was made should remind every Zambian of the daily silent suffering of thousands if not millions of women at the hands of perpetrators of violence against women.
The duo stated that the case of a Luwingu housewife who was allegedly battered and had a burning piece of wood inserted into her private parts was among the many that typifies the daily lives of women in Zambia.
They called upon the police to take appropriate action by arresting Chalwe for threatening violence and the husband of the Luwingu housewife.
The women called upon the MMD leadership to take appropriate action against Chalwe and his gang over his insulting statement to the women of Zambia.
“We further call upon religious leaders, political party leaders and the Zambian society in particular to take a definite stand on violence against women in Zambia,” stated Mutukwa and Chuulu.
On Monday, MMD cadres threatened to gang-rape Nawakwi over her statements on governance issues, and on Tuesday Kabonde said it was not an offence to threaten another person with violence.
Labels: CADRES, EDITH NAWAKWI, FRANCIS KABONDE, INSPECTOR GENERAL, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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