Following the killing of two land protesters by officers of the Zambia National Service, a number of opposition figures and civil society organizations have issued statements demanding justice and expressing outrage over the use of violence.
According to a statement released by United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema, the violent incident reveals a “deeper problem.”
“Colleagues, when incidents like these become commonplace, it tells us that there is a deeper problem somewhere. Why are our service men, who should make us feel secure in their presence become a source of fear?,” Mr. Hichilema wrote. ”This is a question I have no answer to, but possibly someone has an answer out there.”
Elias Chipimo, President of the National Restoration Party (NAREP), held a press conference on the same day as the shooting, calling for the resignation of Police Inspector-General Stella Libongani, whose officers have repeatedly refused to arrest perpetrators of violence.
The Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR) also issued a statement demanding a full investigation and an immediate cessation of the use of live rounds for crowd control.
“We are deeply concerned by this tragic incident of officers firing live rounds at unarmed protesters during a routine crowd control exercise, as it raises fears over how security operations will be handled during future political rallies and elections,” said Robert Amsterdam, international counsel to the CDDR. “All Zambians have a constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly, and such a willful disregard for human lives by the PF government cannot be allowed to continue.”
The CDDR also stated that it will be working with other civil society organisations to prepare a report documenting cases of state-sponsored violence for presentation before “relevant bodies” in the near future.
“There is, in Zambia today, an environment of impunity, where judges can be fired for ruling against friends of the PF regime, where the police refuse to arrest perpetrators of violence so long as it is in the interest of the state, and where moral bankruptcy and corruption reign supreme,” said Amsterdam. “Make no mistake, these kinds of ‘accidental’ shootings are a test of resolve, a test to see what they can get away with. The CDDR intends to work closely with other members of civil society who reject this state-sponsored violence to prepare a report before relevant bodies detailing these events.”
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