President Michael Sata and his policemen are insisting the UPND rally is cancelled irrespective of the High Court order issued yesterday for the event to proceed.
A statement released by acting Inspector General of Police Peter Chingaipe suggest that the rally remains cancelled as the service was only communicated to about the order on Saturday.
“The Zambia Police service wishes to inform the members of the public that the office of the acting inspector general of police mr. Peter Chingaipe has seen a copy of the order to apply for leave for a judicial review which is in action under clause no. 2012/hb/1037 between Walusiku Walusiku Lyambela suing in his capacity as acting secretery general of the United Party for National Development (UPND) against the attorney general.
“The Zambia Police service would like to inform the members of the public that it is not party to this action,” the statement released by Elizabeth Kanjela, the police spokesperson, stated.
The police argue that at close of business on Friday 7th September, 2012, the Attorney General chambers confirmed that they had not been served by any court process in this matter.
“In this regard therefore, as Zambia Police service, the position it had communicated to the UPND regarding their intended rally and its cancellation remains. To this effect anyone found gathering at the venue will be dealt with firmly by police officers,” the police warned.
On Monday, police issued a permit but later decided to withdraw it on Thursday claiming lack of manpower because of the Zambia/Uganda game which was being played a day earlier.