Thu, 25 Jan 2018 08:15:50 +0000
By PRINCE CHIBAWAH AND MOSES SINJWALA
POLICE have maintained that National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters were behind the confusions that erupted when Mr Chishimba Kambwili was being questioned at the Lusaka Central Police Station on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson, Esther Katongo, explained that Mr Kambwili arrived at the station with numerous NDC supporters who made it hard for the police to do their work properly.
She said the cadres were unruly and refused to cooperate with the police. Ms Katongo said this on Lusaka’s Hot FM radio yesterday.
“We advised these cadres to disperse because we just want to do our formalities as police. There is nothing that is sinister with your leader but they could not take our advice.”
“They were pushed away, then they gathered on Church Road where they started causing confusion. That’s where we apprehended three of them,” said Ms Katongo.
Ms Katongo condemned the NDC leadership for turning up at the station with too many supporters.
“This is the reason why we always say when people are appearing at the police station they should not be going with a lot of people. It becomes difficult for officers to police such events because it becomes like a rally where we are supposed to get officers from all the stations so that we come and police only one event,” said Ms Katongo.
Meanwhile the Human Rights Commission has condemned the assaulting of the cadres and called for restraint.
(HRC) Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that the attack on the NDC cadres by opponents at Lusaka Central Police Station yesterday must be condemned.
Mr. Mwandenga said the commission was deeply concerned with the emerging pattern of violence against NDC Party supporters.
He reminded the authorities that just last year NDC members were attacked as they were about to appear on a Radio Station in Lusaka.
“Acts of political intolerance should be condemned as they are a violation of human rights, which every democratic country should endeavuor to promote and protect. Violence against any individual is a criminal act and the Commission appeals to the Zambia Police to act without fear or favour in ensuring that culprits are brought to book in order to end impunity,” he said
He also said that there was need for the Zambia Police to send a clear message to all perpetrators that violence is a criminal offence and thus any person committing or suspected of committing such an offence should be arrested and prosecuted in the courts of law.
He further said the Commission believed that it was within the powers and means of the Zambia Police to decisively deal with such criminal behaviour.
“The Commission wishes to urge all political party leaders to provide guidance to, and instill discipline among their members.
