Zambia Police Denies NDC Permit to hold a public consultative meeting

The National Democratic Congress says the decision by the Police command in Chingola to deny them a permit to hold a public consultative meeting yesterday is nothing but utterly absurd.

Police in Chingola on 12th October advised the NDC not to go ahead with an indoor meeting at Chingola Arts Society due to security circumstances in the District.

Party Acting spokesperson Misheck Moyo has complained that the Police command countrywide has on several occasions refused to allow the NDC to hold public meetings even in instances where the party is taking part in elections.

“Recently, our party consultant and 2021 Presidential candidate Dr. Chishimba Kambwili was not allowed to address a public meeting in Chifunabuli District where we had an election. To therefore promulgate that Zambia is slowly drifting into an authoritarian regime is not an understatement”. Mr. Moyo has said.

He said the NDC is a registered political grouping and they see no reason why authorities should not allow the hold public meetings.

“In the last eleven months, police on the Copperbelt alone have only allowed us to hold two public meetings in Ndola and Mufulira Districts. Even in areas where our members have been holding indoor meetings, such gatherings have always been curtailed”. Mr. Moyo lamented.

He has since called for the immediate depoliticization of the police service to allow the Police command to start making decisions that are in the interest of the general populace.

“We notice with concern that the PF and other political parties such as the MMD, an appendage of the governing party have been holding meetings countrywide without police permits. But the question still remains unanswered, as to why the police has been blocking the NDC from reaching out to the masses?”. Mr. Moyo added.

He has since warned that the NDC will be forced to take legal action if the police continue to muzzle the opposition.

Source: Lusaka Times