The Zambian Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani gave an interview to local media claiming her officers not stopped any political party from holding political activities such as rallies.
Libongani claims that the police are only regulating such functions in the interest of maintaining law and order and ensuring security. The PF government has virtually cancelled or denied main opposition parties in Zambia permit to address their supporters in various parts of the country.
UPND and MMD have been denied permits to hold rallies in Lusaka, Western Province, Copperbelt and Southern Province, among other places even with due notice as stipulated by law.
The two opposition parties have since sued the Zambia Police and Attorney General Mumba Malila for blocking their September rally in Kanyama despite a court order to go ahead.
But the number one PF police cadre Libongani says any political party claiming that they have been barred from holding a political function should be free to visit her in person or the minister of home affairs Edgar Lungu.
She claims that there is no way the police can stop political parties from holding their political rallies without proper reason because it is aware that they too have rights to enjoy.
The Inspector General of police was reacting to a statement by MMD vice president for political affairs Michael Kaingu that the opposition political party will be holding its political meetings at police stations as a result of the failure by police to grant the party permits to hold political meetings.