Commission Of Inquiry Into Gassings Under Consideration

The Government is considering whether to convene a commission of inquiry into recent gassings across the country.

President Lungu told Parliament. “As commander-in-chief of the defence forces and head of state and government, I want to promise Zambians that the enemies of our people will be crushed and buried. To this effect, I am seriously considering constituting a commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of these gassing and mob attacks and be rest assured that all the culprits will be brought to book regardless of their standing in society.”

However, many have dismissed the proposal as a waste of resources. Among those to oppose the move is Fr Richard Luonde, who has objected to the proposal as a “waste of money and a way of running away from telling the Zambians what truly transpired.”

“How many commissions of inquiries have we had as Zambians and what has come out of them? Zero. We are no longer interested in being fooled as Zambians. We have had enough of being taken as docile people and being taken for granted as people who cannot learn and come to know the truth,” Fr Luonde explained.

People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) leader Andyford Banda has advised the Government to allow the security wings to finish their investigations on the subject, before spending additional resources on a commission.

The President has also warned traditional and church leaders against fulling and instigating mob attacks, claiming that the Government is aware that some have done so, both directly and indirectly.

Responding to these allegations, Banda noted that Church and traditional leaders are key actors in promoting national unity and peace.

“President Edgar Lungu has time and again called on the same Church and traditional leaders to give counsel to politicians on various national issues and we are surprised that today he is blaming them over gassing”, he stated.