A leading Civil Society Organization says it is shameful for the Zambia Police to selectively apply the Public Order Act after they allowed Patriotic Front cadres to march freely without a permit on Saturday.
The Zambia Police force has been denying the opposition and civil society organizations permission to hold public meetings but on Saturday watched helplessly as ruling party cadres marched from Northmead Basic School to State House as they took the 2016 presidential endorsement deal to President Michael Sata’s doorstep.
Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes executive director Boniface Chembe said the Zambia Police force were exposed for their lack of professionalism.
“The police should halt this selective application of the Public Order Act as they demonstrated on Saturday. The Patriotic Front cadres were allowed to march all the way from Northmead Basic School to State House,” Chembe said.
“This is the same force that has been so eager to break up demonstrations by the opposition. Remember how they beat up UPND cadres who demonstrated against the Director of Public Prosecutions? How many times have demonstrations against the acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda been refused? So there is a clear case of unprofessionalism by our police.”
He said the police should not allow themselves to be used by politicians.
“The police should be professional and not pander to the whims of politicians because once there is a change of government they risk reprisals,” he said.
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