Following several weeks of blocked meetings and protests by opposition parties, Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has issued a statement to the press commenting that the right to hold campaign rallies, public meetings or demonstrations is not absolute, indicating the government’s willingness to enforce a controversial Public Order Act.
Lungu said members of the general public, political parties and other stakeholders should understand that public gatherings such as rallies and demonstrations by their nature are potentially explosive, justifying intervention by the authorities.
Issuing a ministerial statement permitted by Deputy Speaker Mhkondo Lungu in parliament today, Mr. Lungu said the Public Order Act (PoA) in its current form is a very good piece of legislation, a statement which attracted sharp reactions of disapproval from the opposition Members of Parliament (MPs).
Lungu said that the Public Order Act is therefore justified because as far as government is concerned, and that the law in its current form is sound and appropriate.
He told MPs aggrieved by the Public Order Act in its current form to put forward proposals to his Office for possible amendment.
“The Act is necessary to the country in order to maintain peace and order thereby protecting and safeguarding the lives of people,” Lungu said. “Mr. Speaker sir, the opposition political parties should understand that the right to hold public meetings or demonstrations is not absolute. Public gatherings (rallies) or demonstrations by their very nature are potentially explosive.”
He further explained that by merely giving notice to the Police to hold a public meeting is not a guarantee that such a meeting should go ahead.