CSOs Flag Unfair Application Of Public Order Act

Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has warned the authorities against selective application of the Public Order Act, following complaints raised by opposition political parties. 

“The examples of this unfortunate state of affairs continue to abound almost on an everyday basis,” TI-Z Executive Director Maurice K. Nyambe has stated. 

“Recently, the Zambia Police allowed the Patriotic Front (PF) to host a large meeting welcoming Mr. Chishimba Kambwili back into the party with limited police presence, which could have been a factor in the violence that was witnessed at the event. At the same time, the Police sent a huge battalion of armed officers to stop the United Party for National Development (UPND) from holding an event where they were opening a newly completed party facility,” Nyambe explained. 

“For us, this was a clear case of misapplication of state resources. This unfortunate scenario was worsened by the fact that the police vehicle that took officers to the PF Secretariat to intervene in the unfolding violence ended up being damaged by the unruly cadres,” he continued.  

“TI-Z would like to urge the Zambia Police Service not to act in ways that will contribute to the building of political tension in this election season through the selective application of the Public Order Act or indeed any other law that they are mandated to enforce. We wish to remind the Police that they have an obligation to serve all citizens impartially, and they must therefore go out of their way to treat all political players regardless of party affiliation in a professional and objective manner that will help to build confidence not just in the Police’s ability to maintain law and order, but also to contribute to a more accountable and transparent electoral process. Any other approach in this regard will only serve to further limit the already constrained civic space available for key players in the electoral process, and will ultimately undermine the integrity of the process in its entirety,” Nyambe concluded. 

Meanwhile, the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has also called for fairness in the administration of the POA, as well as fairness in the coverage of political stakeholders by various media houses.