'Public not getting results for reporting corruption'
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Wed 18 Sep. 2013, 14:00 CAT
EASTERN Province minister Malozo Sichone says members of the public are not getting the desired results when they report corruption issues to relevant authorities.
And Sichone says he will make sure justice prevails over the five traffic police officers who were handed over to ACC after he found them with suspected bribe money from motorists along the Chipata-Mfuwe road on Friday.
Meanwhile, Chipata residents have hailed Sichone's newly-adopted system of fighting corruption.
Featuring on Radio Maria's Face the Media programme on Monday, Sichone said one of the most difficult tasks for the government was implementing the policy of fighting corruption.
He said the fight against corruption was difficult because the beneficiaries of corruption were many.
"Now if you plan to fight corruption, the way we have been doing it is that if you entrust your system alone, you will find that you don't get the tangible results… although it has been a difficult task, I think it's a fight worth joining. The other reason why the fight against corruption has been so challenging is that this is an act where one bribes and the other one receiving and the community has not been up to the task to surely report these matters to the relevant authorities," Sichone said.
He said he was aware that the community did not get the desired results when they reported corruption even to the ACC.
"The community does not get the results but instead they are even exposed to the same people they are reporting. This is just as a result of how hefty the (corruption) network has been. Although this fight has been a difficult task, you have seen from the President, he has not spared anybody. Immediately he has hands on, he immediately acts on that. I will give you the examples, within the two years, it's only under the Patriotic Front government that we have heard of a senior police official like it was on the Copperbelt, she was fired for allegedly being linked to corruption and so on," Sichone said.
He said it was only under President Sata that a permanent secretary was fired in Southern Province because of being linked to corruption.
Asked by callers, mostly taxi drivers, what the government would do to the five traffic officers who were allegedly found soliciting bribes, Sichone said they would face justice.
"I am not going to sentence these five traffic officers here but what I will tell you is that as government, we have procedures that we follow. People should be patient. Someone is already saying 'no, it's like they will be left scot-free', but I am saying let's wait and follow the right procedure, and justice will prevail," he said.
Sichone said the ratio of corrupt and good police officers had now moved to 50-50.
"Let me say this, within the police service, we have officers who do their job diligently, officers who perform their work nicely, officers you can admire and officers who inspire young people to join the police. What I have observed now is that the figures are getting to 50-50; the good officers against the bad officers," he said.
Sichone said it was only in Chipata where overloaded taxis were allowed to operate.
"It's only here in Chipata out of all the places where a taxi can carry 12 people, some even go to the extent of putting the people in the boot. These overloaded taxis literally pass through the police checkpoint and go without the vehicle being impounded," Sichone said.
He said after an interaction with taxi drivers, he was told that they overload in order to make extra money that is later paid to the police at checkpoints.
"I have had so much information that I wouldn't want to even bring out because it's for operation purposes. The information we have had is that some of the traffic officers go to the extent of collecting K18,000 in a day," Sichone said.
Several callers commended Sichone on his stance against corruption. One of the callers, who identified himself as Uncle Charles, said the officers who were found wanting should be fired.
Another caller, Martin Mwale, encouraged Sichone to keep remain resolute in fighting corruption.
Labels: ACC, CORRUPTION, MALOZO SICHONE, POLICE CORRUPTION
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Residents stone ‘criminal’ Mchinji police unit
By Patricia Masinga, Nyasa Times
September 25, 2012
Angry residents around Kamwendo Trading Centre in Mchinji district on Tuesday morning pelted stones at Kamwendo Police Unit, charging the officers have overstayed and take part in criminal activities.
Kamwendo often experiences crime, which is said to be currently on the rise.
The commotion started when villagers noted a suspect casually handcuffed to a tree outside the unit, raising questions of security and seriousness.
“They must go and be replaced by others. We think they have overstayed and take part in criminal activities,” said one angry villager.
Police confirmed the incident and said officers were currently engaged with leaders to map a way forward to assist the two parties assist each other to secure the area.
Labels: POLICE BRUTALITY, POLICE CORRUPTION
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Law enforcement bodies frustrating corruption fight'
By Roy Habaalu
Tue 05 June 2012, 13:24 CAT
LAW enforcement agencies are frustrating the government's fight against corruption, says Transparency International Zambia.
TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu said President Michael Sata's resolve to fight corruption was not being translated into tangible action by law enforcement officers and government ministries.
He said there was a gap between the President's political will to fight corruption and law enforcement agencies.
"... the President complained about the slow pace of these institutions and President Sata is not the first one to complain of the slow pace. Even (late Levy) Mwanawasa complained that these law enforcement agencies were not responding positively and rapidly to the given political will. There are certain cases that are just abandoned mid-way. At the beginning when PF came into power there was excitement created, people were being summoned left, right and centre to answer to certain charges, but those issues have sort of been abandoned. There is quietness on those issues and that's the trend," Lungu said.
"As TIZ (we are saying) that if we continue like that the indication might show that we are not making significant improvements in the fight against corruption."
Lungu said law enforcement agencies should be extremely proactive in following up corruption uncovered through the Auditor General's reports.
"So our worry at the moment is that even the civil service has not been put in top gear to respond 100 per cent to the provided political will and the danger in which the PF lies in is that they have not marshalled support in terms of practicality on the ground, on how they will be able to put in place pragmatic, tangible measures to move this fight against corruption forward. A number of government agencies its business as usual, the same areas where people complained of corrupt practices there has been no changes," he said.
Lungu said the President Sata needed to come up with a tangible action plan that would translate his political will into action.
He said under Frederick Chiluba's administration, Zambia on average was losing K275 billion annually and the figure rose to K625 billion under Mwanawasa despite the political will he provided.
"We saw that the public service, even ministers and permanent secretaries in particular, did not respond positively to that fight, so the PF has to rapidly assess how they are faring so far and permanent secretaries in particular should take it upon themselves to develop at least institutional actions on how they are going to institutionalise the fight against corruption. If they don't do that, the President's talk and political will might be rendered irrelevant if it's not put into practice at ground level," he said.
Labels: GOODWELL LUNGU, MICHAEL SATA, POLICE, POLICE CORRUPTION
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C/belt cops are the most corrupt, says Mwaliteta
By Roy Habaalu in Kitwe
Mon 06 Feb. 2012, 12:59 CAT
HOME affairs deputy minister Obvious Mwaliteta says Copperbelt police officers are the most corrupt. Addressing Police, Immigration and Drug Enforcement Commission officers at Kitwe Central Police last Wednesday, Mwaliteta said Copperbelt police officers were compromised because they were on the payroll of the district's notorious gang known as ‘Jerabos'.
He said he had a list of officers that were receiving ‘salaries' from Jerabos that were three times more compared to what the government was paying them.
"You're only liked by criminals; they are your friends not members of the public. Criminals like you very much and when they see you, they're happy because you are on their payroll. Senior police officers are on the Jerabos' payroll but that money is short-lived," he said.
"I have a list of officers from here (Copperbelt) who are on the payroll of Jerabos but I won't harass you but please tell them that next month you are not getting their money because things have changed. This is a new government."
Mwaliteta instructed Provincial Commissioner of Police Mary Tembo to expidite investigations of MMD impounded vehicles so that they could be given to ministries with transport constraints.
He said police officers were compromised because they lacked transport and were not motivated.
Mwaliteta said officers were brainwashed into thinking that they could not survive without receiving corrupt money.
"They (Jerabos) are giving you trouble because you are receiving their money. Corruption should be fought here. Don't wait for State House. Copperbelt is a very sensitive province and God is listening. I receive a lot of calls from very wealthy people wanting to meet me but I refuse, I tell them ‘what do you want now? Why didn't you want me when I was a security guard?'" he said.
He said whenever a police officer was in the community, people thought he was on a begging expedition.
Mwaliteta said his ministry would engage the Treasury to see how best provinces can operate on their own budgets without waiting for funds from the central government.
He said the government would find a way of retaining part of the revenue collected by Immigration Department to mitigate their fuel and transport challenges.
Mwaliteta said the government would provide logistics to ensure that imprisoned illegal immigrants are taken back to their countries of origin to de-congest the prisons.
Labels: COPPERBELT PROVINCE, POLICE CORRUPTION
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(DEMOCRACY NOW) NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly Urged to Resign After Police Conceal Role in Anti-Muslim Documentary
Representatives from the New York City Muslim community, together with local ethnic and interfaith groups, gathered at City Hall Thursday calling for the resignation of New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly and police spokesperson Paul Browne after it was revealed an anti-Muslim film, "The Third Jihad," was screened to nearly 1,500 officers during training. After initial denials, the NYPD admitted the officers were shown the film in training and that Kelly gave the filmmakers a 90-minute interview.
Kelly has now apologized. The controversy comes at a time when relations between the police and the Muslim community are already strained due to recent revelations that the police department has operated a secret surveillance program targeting Muslim neighborhoods. We speak with Arab-American activist Linda Sarsour, who was honored last month at the White House as a "Champion of Change."
Labels: POLICE CORRUPTION, TERRORISM
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I removed Road block to avoid corruption practices- Dr Malama
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, January 1, 2012, 8:00 am
Inspector General of Police Dr Martin Malama has removed roadblocks to avoid corruption practices after the police service were cited as the most corrupt. Dr Malama was speaking yesterday morning on ZNBC TV’s Kwacha Goodmorning Zambia programme. Dr Malama said fighting corruption is not a political party’s fight but a national cause. He further said that the corruption fight is not retributive but it is aimed at those that had stolen from the country.
“The fight against corruption is not retribution, I am not from a political grouping that makes it partisan. The corruption fight looks like retribution but that is not what we are after. We are after those that have stolen from the public so that we can create a strong future” Dr Malama said.
And the police chief said that the fight against the Kitwe notorious guys called the JERABOS is now in the police’s favour by looking at the number of cases which are in court.
“If you look at the court records you will see that the zambian people are winning and some of the big names that you used to hear of are in court”, the Inspector General said.
Meanwhile the Inspector General of police has said that officers handling riots should not be armed. “People with riotous behaviours are not our enemies they are our brothers and sisters, they are not criminals, we should attend to them with minimum force” Dr Malama said.
He also stated that the police service are collaborating with other law enforcement Agencies to make sure that Zambians and visitors ensure safety on the road.
Labels: PF, POLICE CORRUPTION
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ACC rewards cop for turning down bribe
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 29 Dec. 2011, 13:55 CAT
A Lusaka Division police officer, Sylvester Shipolo was yesterday awarded by the Anti Corruption Commission for turning down a bribe. In an interview, Shipolo said he was awarded a sum of K500,000 by ACC after he turned down a bribe of K800,000 on an examination malpractice case he was handling in 2008.
"I was monitoring the issue of examination malpractices with the DEBS District Education Board Secretary and this is when the bribe was advanced by the mother to the girl who was at Kasamba Basic School in Matero and the girl was eventually sentenced to seven months imprisonment at Chimbokaila," Shipolo said.
He said he hoped that his action would help to get rid of the perception that was held by the public about the police being corrupt.
"Not all police officers are corrupt, we have people like myself who are not and so this gesture by the ACC will go a long way in encouraging my fellow officers and also the public that they can actually turn down bribes. So this award has actually come at the right time and it is my Christmas bonus," said Shipolo who is an assistant superintendent in charge of operations.
Shipolo further revealed that the letter of award was given to him in February this year under the MMD but that he was getting the prize now, three months after the PF's ascendancy to power.
And according to the ACC letter which was signed by Clement Chansa, an officer from the commission, Shipolo was awarded for his exemplary behaviour in turning down a bribe.
Labels: ACC, POLICE CORRUPTION
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Libongani commits to ending corruption in police
By Roy Habaalu
Sun 25 Dec. 2011, 13:35 CAT
CORRUPTION is a dirty game that stifles development, says Deputy Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani. During an annual ball for Lusaka Division superior officers on Friday, Libongani said as the first female Deputy Inspector General of Police, she would ensure that officers were content with their wages to avoid corruption.
"Corruption should not even be mentioned because it's a dirty game and stifles development. In improving our welfare each officer will receive two pairs of uniforms every year and very soon we will buy suits for our prosecutors and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID)," she said.
Libongani also said the Zambia Police appreciated President Michael Sata's ascendance to power as it had enhanced professionalism in the service.
She said within three months of the Patriotic Front (PF) government, President Sata had upgraded the entire establishment.
During the commissioning parade for officer cadets in Kabwe on Friday, President Sata said female officers were hardworking and less compromised compared to men.
President Sata appointed Libongani as the first female Deputy Inspector General thereby abolishing the position of commissioner of police.
Libongani said President Sata had proved that he was a leader who believed in and upheld gender equality.
"Provinces are now headed by commissioners out of which seven are women and a woman is now commissioner of DEC (Drug Enforcement Commissioner)," said Libongani.
Labels: POLICE CORRUPTION
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Sakeni warns cops over corruption
By Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Sat 26 Nov. 2011, 12:00 CAT
DO not engage in any form of corruption if you want to stay in employment, Kennedy Sakeni has told police officers. And police officers in Kitwe have rejected the blue uniform introduced by the MMD government last year.
Speaking when he addressed senior officers from various units at Kamfinsa Training School on Thursday, Sakeni, who is home affairs minister, warned that corrupt officers had no place in the police force.
"If you are corrupt, your days are numbered. Avoid corruption of all forms. At least we don't have problems with you Mobile Unit officers, but complaints of corruption are rampant with traffic police," Sakeni said.
During the same gathering, officers unanimously told Sakeni not to purchase the new-look uniforms that were introduced in the service by the Rupiah Banda-led MMD government.
This was after Sakeni asked police officers to freely air their grievances on their operational problems.
"This uniform is a bad one," said one police officer as others joined in the condemnation amidst laughter.
Sakeni agreed with the officers' misgivings on the issue, saying he and President Michael Sata had noticed the ‘strange uniform' during the campaign trail in the run-up to the September 20 tripartite elections.
"How can you distinguish officers from security guards that wear this uniform?" Sakeni wondered.
Meanwhile, Kamfinsa Mobile division commander Peacewell Mweemba revealed the numerous problems that faced the institution.
"We have no training aids like rubber bullets, transport, housing and water. These are very serious challenges sir," Mweemba explained.
He said there were only 500 housing units against the population of 1,200 officers.
"Sewer spillages are posing a danger to the lives of officers and their families. There is no adequate accommodation for both male and female trainee officers and also feeding our officers spread around the eight provinces is a challenge due to the shortages of food rations," said Mweemba.
Sakeni, however, promised that the government would find money even if there was no provision in the budget to ensure that rubber bullets and other training materials were procured.
"Many a time you are blamed for using live bullets when in essence you do not have proper non-lethal machinery to quell unrest and civil uprisings," Sakeni said.
And Sakeni, who toured many police stations in Kitwe unannounced, warned police officers that are reportedly conniving with jerabos organised criminal gangs that they would soon be ‘finished'.
Sakeni directed Kitwe district officer commanding Chibesa Musa to immediately arrest the Kalulushi man who was drugging young girls and later on unleash his bull dog to have sexual intercourse with the girls.
The man is believed to be on the run with the aid of some police officers in Kalulushi who were allegedly bribed to secure his freedom.
Labels: KENNEDY SAKENI, POLICE CORRUPTION
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COMMENT - K470,000 ($94,- at K5000/$)is nothing. The state should just pay the police proper salaries, and take it out of a road or import tax.
Bribery between cops, timber exporters worries sawmillers
By Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Tue 28 June 2011, 08:50 CAT
CONGOLESE timber exporters have found trading in the formal manner unnecessary due to some corrupt Zambia Police officers manning road checkpoints, says the Zambia National Association for Saw Millers.
In a statement in Kitwe, association secretary general William Bwalya said his
members had always received complaints from Congolese traders who pay bribes along the way despite having all the necessary export documentation.
“We had cited internal factors hindering the development of this sector in this paper Post before, among other issues as the urgent reformation by government of the existing Forest Act which is outdated and undesirable,” said Bwalya on Wednesday.
“However, we are citing the Zambia Police to be among the external factors that are undermining the development of the wood and forestry sector.
Following a meeting last week facilitated by the Cross-border Traders Association, Copperbelt chapter, between the timber producers, forestry, veterinary and governmental officials from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Chililabombwe, delegates from both countries recognised the need to formalise the export trade in timber between the two countries,” Bwalya said.
He said the meeting agreed that Zambia ensures that all timber destined for Congo DR and vice-versa has complete export documentations.
Bwalya said the Congolese would also be supplied with import documentations to be worked out by their government.
“The Zambia National Association for Saw Millers incognito last Saturday carried a test export with all export documentations prepared. To the dismay of the officials accompanying the consignment, Zambia Police at all strategic road blocks demanded passage fees in order to provide access to proceed with the consignment to the border. In total, Zambia Police extorted K470,000 for the consignment to reach the border at Kasumbalesa,” Bwalya said.
He said the export documentations cost K1 million which he said were not necessary as far as Zambia Police was concerned.
He said the Congolese said they would rather pay bribes to pass than procure export documentation, which he said did not serve the purpose.
“Similarly, some vehicles used by sawmillers to transport logs are not road worthy and most should be banned from our roads but instead the corrupt officers merely impound these vehicles temporarily until a bribe is paid upon which the vehicles are released,” said Bwalya.
Labels: BRIBERY, CORRUPTION, DRC, POLICE CORRUPTION, TIMBER
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We have to change the way the police polices
By The Post
Sat 05 Feb. 2011, 04:00 CAT
The revelations made by Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs are very worrying.
Kabonde complained that it was challenging for police officers to enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct because of harassment from politicians and that some officers were threatened with dismissals, and this made it difficult for them to perform their duties effectively.
Political use or misuse of the police is a real issue in our country and those in the police service have long been avoiding saying anything real on this issue.
Politicisation of the police has over the years kept on increasing in dimension, occasionally leading to ‘politicisation of criminals’ and ‘criminalisation of politics’.
Sometimes politicisation went to the extent of using the police as a political mouthpiece for those in power.
With the unethical continuation of this malpractice, a nexus of politicians, police and criminals has been created.
Dragging the police into political controversy has led to the deterioration of police image.
Knowing this to be a wrong step and continuing to do it over the years by successive governments was morally inappropriate.
And what is morally wrong cannot be politically right. The need for keeping the police out of politics is, therefore, too urgent to delay.
The role of political leaders and that of the police officers should always be distinct. Political leaders should not take over the operational command of the police.
They will lay down the policy guidelines and the police will execute the decisions within the framework of the law.
The senior police officers will firmly provide correct advice on policy matters. It should be clear as to whose duty is what, who is accountable for what.
A responsible government should lay down transparent policy decisions and monitor its implementation by the police. Ours is a country with politicians in the driving seat.
It should be the duty of every government to enhance the skill, efficiency and professionalism of police.
Politicisation of the police is detrimental to the cause of democracy and damages the basic structure of governance.
The chain of command is bruised and the discipline essential for skilled functioning of police disappears gradually.
Police should be loyal only to lawful orders and obedient to the legal commands. Instead, personal loyalty to the extent of pleasing political bosses overstepping the law of the land brings down the image of police.
Politicians were found to punish the police officials who do not follow their illegal orders.
External political power brokers should not determine the important service matters like transfer and posting of police.
If the career of an efficient honest officer is caused to suffer for doing the right thing simply because it goes against the personal interest of a ruling party member, it sends a damaging message through the rank and file of an organisation.
Selective partisan enforcement of the law is the result of undesirable encroachment and is opposed to the principle of rule of law. Wrongful political intrusion creates an unhealthy environment for our democracy.
Political neutrality and operational autonomy of police tied with accountability is vital for achieving a just society.
Unfortunately, politically-oriented policing got upper-hand over community-oriented policing, resulting in violation of fundamental rights, and widening the gap between the police and citizens.
Growth of professionalism, coupled with strengthening the institutional structure of police is essential to overcoming the evils of politicisation.
Politicisation often leads to witch-hunting. Public perception of police legitimacy badly suffers due to everyday intrusion in police work by people in authority or around it.
Pretended neutrality is the worst form of discrimination.
It is time to put a stop to the gradual deterioration of our police.
De-politicisation is key to the process. Insulation of police from political interference is possible and we hope the government will rise to the occasion and live up to our people’s expectations.
Instead of interfering, the government should ensure transparent and merit-based recruitment, transfer, posting, promotion and all matters affecting the career of an officer.
Lawless law enforcement never enhanced the cause of democracy. Police is what the police does.
If illegitimate political intrusion leads to police disempowerment, the images of the government and that of the police suffer badly.
And the other day, we heard the voice of the Inspector General of our police on this score.
We hope it reaches the ears of the concerned authorities in the government.
We have been too tolerant, as a people, of crimes and abuses of power and this tolerance emboldens the anti-social elements to continue to indulge in criminal activities.
We should all encourage lawful demand for rule of law and cessation of all sorts of undesirable intrusion into and influence on the police and criminal justice system.
Police high-ups have a sacred responsibility to ‘call a spade a spade’ at all times – in the interest of the country they serve.
Use of police to further political objectives by foul means should be a crime.
Political will to resist the temptation of abusing law and lawful authorities for partisan ends should be more openly pronounced and demonstrated.
We can be a great nation, if we become good as a people. As a nation, we should be ready for a meaningful shift in the type of policing, with a view to attaining dignity and justice for all our people, especially the common man.
If not, we are really avoiding saying anything real about these real issues.
Confucius once remarked: “To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.”
We have to change our ways. We have to change many things. We can’t continue doing things the wrong way and using the wrong methods.
We can’t hang on forever to colonial policing practices that even colonialism would find repugnant today.
We can’t continue using colonial practices for policing a democracy because colonial practices and laws contained no elements of democratic values.
We say this because colonial policing was aimed at control and subjugation of the community; it was aimed to be used as a coercive instrument to keep the community under control.
The need for creation of an environment of security for the public was remote in the minds of the rulers.
Authority and its exercise was the point at issue rather than accountability.
Over the years, we have seen four presidents assuming power in our country. It is difficult to find any one of them who used police primarily in the interest of public service.
The interests of the government and the interests of the ruling party got priority over public interest and in many cases, police was used to serve the interests of individuals. Lack of transparency and accountability has continued in police domain when the society expected them to conform to democratic values.
Accountability is the cornerstone of democratic policing.
Accountability raises the question of policing the police. Sovereignty demands that ultimate accountability lie with the people who pay for police and bear the total cost of running the government.
We should know everything we can about government and the first thing we should know is what we are paying for. It is easy to measure the cost of running the government, but it is not easy to measure the ‘value for money’ especially the benefit that ultimately goes to the community at large. Is there any way of measuring the GDP of police service?
In a democracy, police is expected to be civilian in nature, more decentralised to conform to the local need, transparent in their performance and proactive rather than reactive.
They will work in the interest of public service, facilitate access to justice, maintain healthy contact with the community, follow the principles of rule of law; encourage public participation in policing and adhere to the principles of fundamental rights.
They are also expected to adopt a culture of minimum use of force and avoid torture.
But there are challenges to democratic policing.
And these are many in our country. We still have colonial laws and regulations – even our police stationery still bears colonial descriptions of an individual.
We still have a colonial culture of authoritarianism.
We still use the police for suppression, oppression and repression of political opponents and more protocol orientation than service mentality.
Use and abuse of police since independence was manifested in using police to win an election, to protect the arbitrary authority of the regime in power, to support rule of power instead of rule of law, overstep the law, operate above and beyond the law to suit the desire of the ruling regime, indulge in clandestine acts of oppression and suppression of political opponents, indiscriminate arrest, torture in remand, indulgence in so-called ‘cross-fire’, collection of intelligence regarding political opponents and enjoyment of impunity and political patronage by corruption officials.
This can’t continue.
We have to change the way the police polices.
Labels: POLICE, POLICE CORRUPTION
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Malawi sets ablaze 40 houses for Zambians
By Nyasa Times
Published: November 17, 2010
Officials from Kasungu National Park in Malawi have set ablaze 40 houses for Zambians over a border dispute, top government officials in Blantyre have confirmed. The misunderstanding between the two neighbouring countries has remained unresolved for over 30 years.
Kasungu National Park borders the eastern side of Zambia.
Zambia President Rupiah Banda and his Malawians counterpart Bingu wa Mutharika
Malawi’s Director of Parks in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Leonard Sefu said the park officials warned the Zambians, who encroached the park several times since February, to no avail.
“But the Zambians ignored the warnings. They even started preparing more land to grow crops, so the national park officials forcibly removed all their belongings from the houses, removed everybody out of the houses, and set them ablaze,” said Mr Sefu.
Kidnapped
He said during the operation, the Zambians kidnapped five members of staff and confiscated two Malawi Government vehicles. The five and the vehicles have since been surrendered.
Asked if the operation would not cause a diplomatic row between Malawi and Zambia, Mr Sefu said the officials were forced to act after the boundary between Malawi and Zambia was clearly marked.
“But the discussions are still going on between Malawi and Zambia through the Foreign Affairs ministries,” said Mr Sefu, adding before the exercise, the district commissioners and police chiefs from Kasungu and Mchinji were involved in the discussions.
— (Reporting by Rex Chikoko, Africa Review)
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, BORDERS, CHIEF CHANJE, KASUNGU NATIONAL PARK, LEONARD SEFU, POLICE CORRUPTION
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COMMENT - This smells of police corruption. Border demarcation is one thing, but burning people's houses down is something else.
Malawian cops torch 20 houses in Chief Chanje
By Times Reporter
UNIFORMED Malawian police officers have set ablaze 20 houses belonging to Zambians living on the Zambia-Malawi boundary in Chief Chanje’s area in Chipata District. The armed officers from Kasungu National Park set the houses on fire last week and accused the Zambians of encroaching on Malawian land.
Chief Chanje of the Chewa speaking people confirmed the development in an interview in Chipata yesterday. He said the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit team under the office of the vice-president had sent some foodstuff and erected tents for the victims.
The traditional leader said a combined team of officers from the Zambia Army, Zambia National Service and Zambia Police Service that rushed to the scene impounded two Malawian Government vehicles that were used in raiding the Zambian villagers.
Some of the areas that were torched included Kaleza farm bloc and parts of Kamukomole forest in Chief Chanje’s area.
Zambia and Malawi share an 800-kilometre common border in Eastern Province but only 200 kilometres have been marked by way of putting beacons.
The two countries’ governments early this year started putting beacons on the remaining 600-kilometre stretch.
“Some armed Malawian police officers from Kasungu National Park set ablaze 20 houses belonging to my subjects who were accused of encroaching on their land. The Malawian police officers have been doing this operation for the past two weeks now,” he said.
He explained that after some new beacons were installed, some of his subjects were found on the Malawian soil while some Malawians were found on Zambia land.
He said the villagers were told not to panic because the relocation would be done gradually with the involvement of leaders from the two countries.
He called for the immediate arrest of the officers involved in what he described as an illegal operation in which his subjects lost a number of assets.
“These Malawian police officers should be arrested and charged with arson for their illegal operation on a foreign land,” he said.
Zambia and Malawi in 2003 signed a joint communiqué at Katuta Lodge in Chipata where they reaffirmed their commitment to completing the demarcation of the common border between the two countries.
The officials from the two countries also agreed that the people living along the border should continue living in harmony as the two countries looked for funds to put new markers in areas where some beacons had been uprooted.
Labels: BORDERS, CHIEF CHANJE, MALAWI, POLICE CORRUPTION
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Garden compound residents riot after man dies in police custody
By Collins Phiri
Sat 13 Nov. 2010, 04:02 CAT
FURIOUS residents in Lusaka's Garden compound yesterday demolished a police post and burnt vehicles in protest against a suspected case of police brutality in which a man died. They went on the rampage after police officers allegedly beat a man to death for “loitering” on Thursday night.
According to a source, the deceased’s family members went to Garden police post to check on their relative who had been picked up the previous night, but could not find him.
The source said police attempted to bribe relatives who demanded to know the whereabouts of the man with K100,000.
The relatives later discovered the body of the deceased at the police post with a deep cut on the head.
Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamano could not give details of the incident but said senior officers had been sent to investigate.
Labels: NDANDULA SIAMANA, POLICE BRUTALITY, POLICE CORRUPTION, RIOTS
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Hichilema escapes lynching in Chilanga
By Patson Chilemba, Mwala Kalaluka and Kombe Chimpinde
Fri 08 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was yesterday forced to escape into a classroom full of pupils at Chilanga Basic School when a group of
marauding MMD cadres broke a police cordon in an attempt to beat him up. Police had to fire a gunshot and several teargas canisters to disperse the unruly cadres.
Pupils at the school had to be prematurely released from classes following the confusion and the fact that the whole area was covered in teargas. This was during the filing of nomination papers ahead of the October 30, 2010 Chilanga by-election, which took place at the school.
The confusion erupted around 15.00 hours after the MMD candidate in the by-election, Lusaka lawyer Keith Mukata, had just finished filing his nomination papers before the returning officer Alfred Chipoma.
Hichilema arrived with his delegation, comprising members of parliament and party officials a few minutes later and proceeded to a section of the school to await the announcement of the successful candidates.
However, one UPND official had a problem over parking space with some MMD cadres that had converged on Kafue Road and when Hichilema and his officials went to inquire as to what was going on, the MMD cadres started to advance towards them. But police officers quickly moved in between the two groups.
UPND was outnumbered by those from the MMD. The MMD cadres asked Hichilema what he was doing there when it was just a nomination for a parliamentary by-election.
Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Gary Nkombo attempted to reason with the MMD cadres. This appeared to incense Lusaka District MMD information and publicity secretary Marriot Ngoma who advanced towards Nkombo with a view of punching him.
Nkombo also went for Ngoma but was restrained by some UPND officials. Ngoma, on the other hand, attempted to pass through a group of police officers in a bid to manhandle an already charged Nkombo.
In the confusion, Hichilema was heard saying that the behaviour of the police was foolish.
“That is foolishness, you are looking at people fighting and you are doing nothing,” Hichilema said angrily.
Nkombo also asked the police officers if the MMD cadres were too powerful to be dealt with.
On the other hand, the MMD intensified their chanting and shouts whilst trying to get to Hichilema. As they were doing this, some were hurling insults at Hichilema and company.
Hichilema went through the hedge towards the school grounds and the MMD cadres angrily uprooted part of the hedge and started throwing the shrubbery at the police officers.
Within a few minutes, the MMD cadres had broken the police cordon and followed Hichilema who was by now walking along the corridor of the classroom block opposite the one where the nomination was taking place.
The cadres again went for Hichilema and pushed him against the wall but his security personnel surrounded him. In the midst of the confusion, police officers forced Hichilema into a classroom full of pupils.
The MMD cadres added up their numbers and attempted to push the police officers away from the door of the classroom but the police officers stayed put. Some MMD cadres started throwing stones on the roof of the classroom and one of the stones broke the asbestos roof.
Police fired the first teargas canister at exactly 15.31 hours, sending the MMD cadres, media personnel and pupils scampering all over the place.
“Come on let’s chase them,” one plain-clothed police officer was heard telling his colleagues as they pursued the MMD cadres.
The teargas canister was followed by a gunshot in the air and the electoral officers inside the nomination centre could be seen holding their noses and rubbing their eyes due to the teargas.
Some teachers were heard asking each other if the Provincial Education Officer (PEO) should be called to intervene on what should be done with the pupils who were still inside the classroom in light of the confusion.
The MMD cadres retreated to Kafue Road where police later fired more teargas canisters to disperse them.
When he came out from the classroom, Hichilema blamed the violence on Lusaka Province MMD acting chairman William Banda, who is the deputy campaign manager in the by-election.
“But what do you expect when you put William Banda as campaign manager?” asked Hichilema, who had to leave the nomination centre before the announcement of the successful candidates.
But William Banda said it was shameful for Hichilema to attend a nomination for a parliamentary by-election when he was a person eyeing State House.
At the close of the nomination, Chipoma announced that Valerie Mukeleni of the National Restoration Party (NAREP), Capt Cosmas Moono of the UPND, MMD’s Keith Mukata and UNIP’s Henry Silumesii had successfully filed their nomination papers.
Chipoma asked the police officers to be the last to leave the nomination centre.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Patriotic Front (PF) supporters and sympathisers yesterday brandished red cards against President Rupiah Banda and the MMD when they escorted their candidate, Freedom Sikazwe, for nominations at Mpulungu Civic Centre.
And MMD candidate Given Mung’omba said he stands at a disadvantage because he is a Seventh Day Adventist since the parliamentary by-election will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2010.
The PF procession started from Muzabwela grounds, about a kilometre from the Civic Centre, with the cadres brandishing red cards as they walked alongside a huge PF convoy, which was under the leadership of vice-president Dr Guy Scott and several other party leaders.
One of the women in the procession said that the residents had resorted to red cards because they were tired of the suffering brought about on account of MMD’s failed promises in the area.
The cadres wanted to escort Sikazwe up to the Civic Centre but police ordered them to remain about 400 metres from the nomination centre.
The cadres found police insistence irritating and managed to break through some police barriers until their leaders prevailed over them to follow orders from the police.
PF candidate Sikazwe was the first to file his nomination before 10:00 hours and declared thereafter that PF should concentrate most of their campaigns in the rural parts of Mpulungu.
When the time came for the MMD to file their nomination around 12:30 hours, the popularity battles between MMD and PF emerged around the town centre area.
MMD cadres who were on their way accompanying their candidate to file in his nomination sang solidarity songs.
PF cadres responded by raising their party symbol and their president Michael Sata’s campaign posters.
And Mung’omba has appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia to change the election date because having elections on Saturday would disadvantage him. He said Mpulungu had a large number of Seventh Day Adventists.
“In fact, I’m also a Seventh Day Adventist. At the individual level as a candidate I’m already disadvantaged. So, perhaps this is a very strong appeal that we are making to the authorities that they may consider.
Yes I’ll be disadvantaged,” Mung’omba said. “When you say disadvantaged, it is to say that people may not be 100 per cent turnout and these are the issues of belief; there are no shortcuts. Some people may go against the Ten Commandments, maybe those may be few. Those who may say, ‘we will die with Jesus’ are the ones who may disadvantage me.”
Asked if he would vote, Mung’omba responded: “It is my belief, I won’t comment now, but I will be disadvantaged.”
However, Mung’omba expressed confidence that MMD would win the election in Mpulungu.
By press time, those who had managed to file in their nominations included Sikazwe, Mung’omba and NAREP’s Muchinzi Mwazya.
Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) candidate Chilowela Sinyangwe was sent away to re-organise himself because some of his supporters did not appear in the 2005 voters register which will be used in the by-election. UNIP had not yet filed in their nomination.
Labels: CADRES, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MMD, POLICE CORRUPTION, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Luanshya PF councillors stage walkout over colleague's arrest
By Misheck Wangwe, Mwila Chansa and David Chongo
Sat 11 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) councillors led by Roan parliamentarian Chishimba Kambwili on Wednesday walked out of the council chamber during the mayoral elections in protest against the arrest of councillor Adam Zulu by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Luanshya.
And Kambwili has said PF councillors will never attend council meetings until the election of councillor Peter Phiri of the MMD as mayor is declared null and void.
In an interview on Thursday, Kambwili said the PF councillors decided not to take part in the mayoral elections because the MMD councillors, led by Luanshya parliamentarian Simon Kachimba, schemed the arrest of Zulu who had been accused of attempting to bribe an MMD councillor Mabvuto Daka.
Kambwili explained that like any other elections, Zulu was lobbying his fellow councillors to vote for him as mayor of Luanshya in a clean manner but the MMD councillors made malicious plans to have him arrested by the ACC.
“Our PF councillor Adam Zulu of Lumumba ward was vying for the position of mayor… so he was called for lunch by the MMD councillor Mabvuto Daka, to join him for lunch in town and he gladly went there as he was invited by a colleague but suddenly ACC officers picked them up and accused Zulu of attempting to bribe Daka with K1.8 million, and they were taken to Luanshya Central Police,” Kabwili explained.
“At the police, Daka was released after he alleged that he was given the K1.8 million he had in his pocket by Zulu, and that’s how the police detained Zulu but they recorded a warn and caution statement from him later. As PF, we feel insulted because the MMD wants to do everything to expose the PF to ridicule for nothing. This is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. We are aware that Kachimba was sent by the MMD to cause all this confusion and they will not succeed.”
Kambwili said the arrest of Zulu was a clear abuse of authority alleging that Kachimba issued direct instructions to the ACC to arrest Zulu under clear malicious grounds.
He said PF councillors in Luanshya have vowed that they will never attend the council meetings until the election of Phiri of the MMD as mayor is revoked.
Kambwili said Zulu's arrest was a futile plan by the MMD in trying to weaken the PF in Luanshya.
And Luanshya town clerk Andrew Mwanakulanga, who was the returning officer, confirmed that the 14 PF councillors did not vote during the mayoral elections.
In Kitwe, former journalist Elias Kamanga went through unopposed as Kitwe mayor together with his deputy John Mwape of Ipusukilo ward.
Kamanga who is PF Bupe ward councillor said he would work hard to ensure that the council performed to the expectations of Kitwe residents.
Outgoing Kitwe mayor Stephen Chipungu commended councillors for the manner in which they conducted the affairs of the city and the support they rendered to him.
In Chingola, PF Chitimukulu ward councillor McDonald Mulongoti is the new mayor.
Returning officer Patrick Teleshi, who is also Chingola town clerk, said Mulongoti beat the other two contestants after he polled 14 votes.
Teleshi said councillors Stephen Mubanga of the MMD and George Sichula of PF got seven votes each.
In Kalulushi, MMD Chibuluma ward councillor Emmanuel Mazokela scooped the Kalulushi mayoral elections, taking over from his fellow MMD Ichimpe ward councillor Evaristo Mwalilino.
Kalulushi Municipal Council public relations officer Kangwa Muma confirmed the development on Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, tempers flared in the Solwezi Municipal Council chamber on Wednesday, with councillors almost engaging in a physical fight following an electoral misunderstanding during the mayoral elections.
Confusion arose after one candidate for the position of deputy mayor was declared the winner unopposed despite other candidates contesting the poll.
When returning officer, town clerk Jim Zya, declared Fordson Malishinyi as the duly elected deputy mayor, councilors from opposing camps rose to protest, questioning how Malishinyi went unopposed despite others standing for the election.
When they were told that Malishinyi’s nomination was the only one valid and theirs were invalid, tempers rose in the chamber and verbal expletives were exchanged between the sides.
In invalidating the papers, Zya said one councillor had endorsed more than one candidate while another contestant who had earlier endorsed his colleague the previous morning changed his mind in the afternoon and filed for the same position himself.
Zya said according to the electoral rules, such anomalies were justifiable basis for invalidating nomination papers in which situation Malishinyi emerged ‘unopposed’.
But the aggrieved councillors argued that they were not informed that their papers were invalid after it emerged that Malishinyi had also filed in invalid papers but had been tipped to correct them at the council by an unidentified electoral official through a third party the day before.
When calm finally returned among the councillors, it was decided that the declaration of Malishinyi as deputy mayor be nullified and fresh elections be held leading to the postponement of both elections to yesterday which turned out peaceful.
And MMD’s Sandang’ombe ward councillor Jameson Kapumba was elected new Solwezi mayor after beating two other contestants, polling 12 votes against fellow MMD Kibanza ward councillor Fanwell Kabozha who polled eight votes and Peter Kapamba of Tumvwang’anai ward who got four votes out of the 23 cast.
The position of deputy mayor went to MMD Musele ward councillor Malishinyi, who polled 11 votes against UPND’s Chikola ward councillor Jameson Mutunta who polled eight votes.
Labels: ACC, ADAMS ZULU, CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, CORRUPTION, MABVUTA DAKA, PF, POLICE CORRUPTION
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Ours is a disgraced police
By The Post
Mon 30 Aug. 2010, 04:04 CAT
Every 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 be explicit, not secret, arbitrary or subject to political manipulation by those in power, those in charge of state institutions.
We say this in the light of the police’s refusal to arrest and prosecute Lucy Changwe, a deputy minister in Rupiah Banda’s government, who bounced a cheque of K10 million issued to the complainant Roger Musonda of Mkushi. To us, and probably to many other independent-minded citizens, this is a case of double standards. We say this because in a similar case involving George Mpombo, an ardent critic of Rupiah, the police behaved differently. They were very eager to arrest Mpombo and prosecute him for bouncing a postdated cheque he had issued to a personal friend Terence Findlay, an MMD cadre with very strong links to Frederick Chiluba and one with reasonable access to Rupiah and with good business links with government institutions.
The police are saying they cannot arrest and prosecute Changwe because at the time of issuing the K10 million cheque to Musonda, that is on May 21, 2010, she had K23 million in her bank account. And because of this, she can’t be arrested and prosecuted because she had sufficient funds on that account at the time of issuing that cheque. But this is not true. Changwe did not have sufficient funds on that account at the time of issuing that cheque because she had also written other cheques whose total exceeded her K23 million account balance.
Musonda deposited the cheque the same day but it bounced because she only had K2 million available to clear a cheque of K10 million. Changwe’s cheque to Musonda bounced because she didn’t have sufficient funds in the account, she had overdrawn her account. If she had sufficient funds in her account to cover that cheque of K10 million, her cheque to Musonda wouldn’t have bounced. If the police’s reasoning is accepted, then very few, if any, would be prosecuted for bouncing a cheque. We say this because if one has K23 million in his or her account on a particular day, one can issue as many cheques as possible on that same day to as many people as possible as long as none of them is more than K23 million, and whichever cheque bounces after that, it is no offence. This is nonsense. It doesn’t make sense legally or otherwise.
And it is decisions like these that are undermining public confidence in state institutions. With this type of reasoning and decisions, how can anyone expect the police to be respected and retain some measure of credibility with the Zambian people? It is clear that for those who are in Rupiah’s league, excuses will always be found to make them escape justice. We have not forgotten how every effort was made to try and make Dr Solomon Musonda get away with shooting an unarmed and harmless young opposition PF cadre in Serenje. The only time Musonda was arrested was when measures were instituted to take civil action against him. But even then, the police tried in all sorts of ways to defend his action. They actually cleared him of any wrongdoing. But today, the same police have been tasked to prosecute a man they had declared innocent. What should the public expect from this prosecution – a conviction or an acquittal? How can the police be entrusted with the prosecution of a matter they did not want to prosecute and be expected to put in a spirited effort to secure a conviction?
Probably Musonda should just take a similar route and pursue civil litigation against Changwe, hoping that the police will at that stage jump in and try to save face. This is not the way to administer justice in a country. But this is the way justice is being administered in our country today. Those who administer the criminal justice in our country today hold power with the potential for abuse and tyranny. And they are actually abusing that power in a very tyrannical way. They are using their control of the criminal justice system to harass political opponents and exempt members of their league from justice. No nation that aspires to be a more just, fair and humane one can tolerate abuses of this nature. From the very beginning, no one ever thought Changwe would be arrested because the police were very reluctant to deal with the matter. And this renders credibility to the arguments of those who are saying that Mpombo’s arrest, prosecution and conviction was part of a conspiracy to politically and otherwise cripple him. The similarities between Mpombo’s case and that of Changwe are glaring, and it’s very difficult to distinguish them. Mpombo issued a postdated cheque of K10 million to Findlay.
At the time Mpombo issued the postdated cheque, he didn’t have sufficient funds in his account. This didn’t matter because the cheque was not for that date but for a future date when he thought he would have sufficient funds to cover the cheque. But life being what it is with its uncertainties, as the date of the cheque was nearing, Mpombo realised that he may not have the money in his account on the date of the cheque and asked Findlay not to deposit the cheque until he was told to do so. Findlay ignored this and went ahead and deposited the cheque, which consequently bounced. And Mpombo was reported to the police and arrested. But before being arrested, Mpombo went to Findlay with cash to make good the cheque. Findlay refused to take the money and Mpombo had to pay that money to the police. But the matter still went ahead, and Mpombo was convicted and sent to prison with a fine on top of that. Is it illegal to issue a postdated cheque in this country? Is it illegal to issue a number of cheques whose sum total is more than the balance on one’s account? Does it really matter if one issues a postdated cheque when there is no money on his account but at the time it’s presented, it is adequately covered and accordingly cleared? This whole issue boils down to the right to equality before the law, or equal protection of the law. This issue is fundamental to any just and democratic society.
As we have consistently stated, whether political ally of those in power or opponent – all are entitled to equal protection before the law. And under no circumstances should those in power, those who control state institutions and administer the criminal justice system in our country impose additional inequalities; they should be required to deal evenly and equally with all our people. No one is above the law. We all submit to the law because we recognise that however indirectly, we are submitting to ourselves as makers of the law. And when laws are established by the people who then have to obey them, both the law and good governance or democracy are served. If Rupiah and his friends had a sense of shame, they would not allow Changwe not to be arrested in the light of what they did to Mpombo. But these are shameless characters. There is nothing in this world that they can’t do as long as it suits them no matter how repugnant it may be. Public opinion doesn’t seem to bother them.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, MMD, POLICE CORRUPTION, TERRENCE FINDLAY
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Ndola mother, son 13, arrested for ‘red-carding’ Rupiah
By Abigail Chaponda and Kabanda Chulu in Ndola
Thu 05 Aug. 2010, 04:01 CAT
POLICE in Ndola on Tuesday arrested and detained a 13-year-old boy together with his mother for allegedly flashing a red card at President Rupiah Banda’s motorcade in Chifubu Township.
And a man was beaten and left for the dead at Chifubu market after five MMD cadres allegedly mistook the polony he bought for a red card.
The boy, his mother Avis together with two other women, Annie Mbewe and Angela Siachinda were going for lunch when they met their fate.
The boy’s mother told The Post at Kansenshi Police Station, after Ndola District PF officials paid for their release, that she was disappointed with the police for arresting them.
She accused the police of being unprofessional, saying they had all turned into MMD cadres.
“I was going somewhere and my son was following me behind. There were two people who were drank and they started flashing red cards at President Banda’s motorcade. The police ran after us and told us that we were flashing red cards at the motorcade. From there, the police accused us of flashing the red cards,” she said.
“They put me and two other ladies in a van, but when I looked behind, I saw that my son was arrested too. I told the police that my son was young and should not be arrested, instead I told them to arrest me, but they refused and we were arrested and detained at the police. We have been at the police since 14:00 hours on Tuesday.”
She said she was only helped by PF officials who organised a lawyer to have them released.
The boy’s mother said she was disappointed with the police because her son was emotionally disturbed with what they had done and she would ensure that the officers were disciplined.
The boy failed to talk as he broke down.
Lawyer Derek Mulenga of Derek Mulenga and Company said the four were charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
Mulenga said the four paid K50,000 each as guilty fee to avoid spending a night at the police.
Meanwhile, a man was beaten and left for the dead at Chifubu market as MMD cadres were waiting for President Banda to tour the market.
It was reported that the unknown man bought polony from Quick Save Butchery and when he walked out, some cadres mistook the polony he was carrying to be red cards and started beating him.
“The man was badly beaten, when he was being taken to the hospital, he was almost dead. These unruly cadres beat him because he bought a polony which cadres thought was a red card because it was wrapped in a red cover,” said Chanda Bupe, an eyewitness.
Copperbelt police commanding officer Antoniel Mutentwa confirmed that police in Ndola had arrested ten taxi drivers for allegedly blocking Vice-President George Kunda’s motorcade on Monday.
“We have managed to get 24 registration numbers that taxi drivers were driving when they blocked the Vice-President. They have been charged with disobeying police officer’s instructions,” Mutentwa said.
Meanwhile, President Banda on Tuesday visited four markets in Chifubu Constituency and hundreds of Chifubu residents flocked to get a glimpse of him.
Labels: CADRES, POLICE CORRUPTION, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, RED CARD CAMPAIGN
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Don’t succumb to political pressure, Sata urges C/belt cops
By George Chellah in Lusaka and Abgail Chaponda, Darious Kapemb
Wed 04 Aug. 2010, 10:00 CAT
PF leader Michael Sata yesterday warned police against using President Rupiah Banda’s trip to Ndola as a scapegoat to frustrate PF campaign activities in Chifubu. And violence erupted in Chibufu on Monday evening as cadres from MMD and PF clashed in a stone throwing scenario that left one woman with deep wounds in the head.
In an interview, Sata urged the police command on the Copperbelt not to succumb to political pressure from the MMD.
“I have been informed that the police are trying to cause unnecessary problems in Chifubu. Just because Rupiah is away in Ndola and he is going to have a walk about and tour markets they want to ground our campaign activities in Ndola,” Sata said.
“I am very disappointed with this behaviour. They want all PF activities to stop in Chifubu, which is very unfair for police to interfere in elections in this manner.”
Sata said President Banda wanted to use the police to facilitate the rigging of elections in Chifubu.
“They got the message and they have seen that things are tough for them in Chifubu so they now want to use the police. Probably, they want to compensate for George Kunda’s motorcade incident. We have told our people to remain upbeat because victory in Chifubu is certain,” Sata said.
“We have told them not to resort to violence despite the provocation from the police and the MMD. There is nothing for Rupiah to fear in Chifubu because our people will not harm him in any way. What we have told our people in Chifubu is to simply greet him politely wherever he goes with the PF symbol so that he knows that we still exist.”
Sata advised the police not abuse the Public Order Act just to facilitate rigging in favour of the MMD.
“Why are they stopping the PF people from campaigning? Does Rupiah want to rig the elections the Malawian way?” Sata asked.
But Copperbelt police commanding officer Antoniel Mutentwa denied that the police were frustrating PF campaign activities.
“It’s a lie. They PF did not apply for any programme today. What they are doing is the door-to-door campaigns,” he said.
And MMD’s Chiko Chibale on Monday threatened to report Chifubu police station criminal investigations officer Martin Chilando to the Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde for refusing to obey his orders to arrest PF cadres.
Confusion started immediately after Sata’s motorcade left Chifubu after he addressed a campaign rally. MMD supporters that sell fuel just opposite Chifubu market grabbed a PF cadre and tore his clothes for flashing a red card at them (MMD cadres).
This angered the opposition supporters, mostly Chifubu residents, who retaliated with stones and started advancing towards the MMD.
After realising that they were out-numbered by the opposition supporters, the MMD gave in and released the youth they had earlier detained.
Patriotic Front Ndola district chairperson Rebby Chanda emerged and convinced his youths to stop throwing stones and to disperse but the slogan chanting youths defied the instructions as they shouted: “We want change! We want change! We want change!”
As Chanda was addressing a huge crowd of angry PF youths, others heckled that “MMD would be taught a bitter lesson in Chifubu if they wanted to repeat the violence they caused in Mufumbwe”.
“Balemona kwati ni ku Mufumbwe kuno, kuno tulebalanga ati MMD yalipwa tatuli bakwangalako ifwe (they think this is Mufumbwe, here we will show them that MMD is finished, they shouldn’t play with us).”
And Ndola district police commanding officer Stella Libongani arrived at the scene with police officers in riot gear to reinforce security.
Libongani together with officers from Chifubu police station managed to calm the situation and ordered the other MMD youths who had gathered a heap of stones in readiness for a show down to disperse.
Earlier, Chibale - who arrived at the scene a few minutes after the confusion - accosted Chilando asking him why he had gone to the MMD camp with a gun.
“Why did you come here with a gun, you think we can be threatened by this gun? Come on arrest those opposition chaps! Why should you allow this anarchy by the opposition?” asked Chibale.
But Chilando furiously told Chibale to leave the police to do their job professionally.
“Who do you think you are? Do you know how police work? Can you just concentrate on what you came to do here and leave us to our job,” he said.
At this point, Chibale almost grabbed the left hand of the police officer and threatened to report him to Kabonde.
“Do you know what you are doing? You don’t know me, I talk to the IG and I can put you into serious problems if you are playing with me,” he warned the officer.
But Chilando responded: “Which IG? Do you have your own IG? Go ahead and report, you want me to antagonise the situation? Those opposition have humbly obeyed our orders but you want us to move with force? Come on, go ahead and tell your own IG,” said Chilando.
As the argument was going on, other officers were heard saying that MMD always wanted to claim innocence when they aggravate the situation but fail to contend when they are outnumbered.
Upon realising that it was getting dark, Libongani ordered all the officers at the scene to move in and disperse cadres on both sides of the main road.
About four people were injured in the fracas.
Mutentwa said that no one was arrested but that police were going to put their foot down. He said the police had been very good and were working hard to maintain peace in the area and that they were not going to allow anyone to bring violence in Chifubu.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, POLICE CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA
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MMD cadres block other parties from Kawama market
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Thu 29 July 2010, 04:00 CAT
MMD cadres and State House security officers on Tuesday afternoon allegedly harassed and blocked other political parties from campaigning at Kawama market in readiness for the Chifubu parliamentary by-election.
PF cadres who were at the scene told Post Online that
MMD cadres, with the help of the police, were threatening to beat anyone who went near the market to campaign saying that MMD was the only party allowed to campaign in the area.
One of the cadres, John Bwalya, explained that MMD cadres blocked the PF-UPND pact from campaigning because they were chanting slogans and telling people not to vote for MMD.
“We were doing our usual campaign of going door-to-door. When we finished, we went to the market where we wanted to campaign to people selling at the market but as we were heading towards the market while singing, we were stopped by MMD cadres and some police officers and they told us that we were not allowed to campaign at the market, only MMD was allowed,” he said.
“From there we were upset and we almost fought because we were not happy but some cadres tore three of our friends’ t-shirts and said that since MMD was the ruling party, they were going to make sure that they use the police to stop us from campaigning.”
Bwalya said he and other cadres later reported the matter to Chifubu police station.
When contacted for a comment, Copperbelt commanding officer Antoniel Mutemtwa confirmed that police had received a report and summoned all political parties.
“We received a report from some political parties and we have summoned all of them to find out what really happened. But I can confirm that the police is investigating a matter in which some MMD t-shirts were torn. But we have called all the parties to get to the bottom of what is happening,” said Mutentwa.
And police sources confirmed that State House security officers had been deployed and were helping MMD cadres blocking other political parties from campaigning.
“We as the police are disappointed with what we found when we went to Kawama to check what was happening after reports that MMD cadres were blocking other people from going into the market. We were surprised to find that police officers from State House were helping the cadres,” said the source.
“At first we thought they were just cadres, but after we questioned, that is when they showed us their identities. We feel intimidated that State House police can come here, to make us look like we don’t know how to do our job.”
Meanwhile, PF campaign manager Willie Nsanda said he would talk to the police over what happened in Kawama because he did not want violence.
“To say the truth, I am not happy. If MMD wants to fight we are more than ready to do that but because we assured the police that we’re not (here) to fight, we won’t. It seems MMD is taking us for a ride. Violence is bad. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Mufumbwe. But we are going to talk to the police,” said Nsanda.
But MMD deputy campaign manager Joe Malanji denied the allegations saying MMD cadres were the ones that were blocked from campaigning.
“Hundreds of MMD women and youths were attacked by some cadres. It is not true that it is MMD. As MMD we are going to report to the police about this sad development,” said Malanji.
Labels: ANTONEIL MUTENTWA, CADRES, JOE MALANJI, JOHN BWALYA, MMD, POLICE CORRUPTION, WILLIE NSANDA
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