Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has come out strongly in condemning the state use of brutal Police force against the UPND in Solwezi and elsewhere.
ZCID Executive Director Horrace Chilando has since appealed to those who exercise authority over institutions of state power to stop what he has termed as irresponsible behavior of brutalizing citizens under the pretext of maintaining law and order.
Mr Chilando says it is shameful to note that while the President is calling for peace and reconciliation, other organs of the same government he superintends are doing exactly the opposite. He says President Lungu must take interest in monitoring his charges otherwise what he promised the people in his elaborate speech to Parliament would be viewed as mere political rhetoric.
Mr Chilando states that the state should not make it a habit of turning it’s mighty against its own people at the slightest provocation.
The ZCID Executive Director says the role of the state is to protect its citizens as they enjoy their rights and not to be the perpetrator of terrorism.
This is contained in a statement released to Qfm news.
Meanwhile the Zambia Police Service has condemn the conduct of the UPND cadres for turning riotous after being advised by officers and school management not to conduct a rally at Manyama Basic School grounds in Kalumbila on account of lack of prior notice.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani in a statement says instead of adhering to Police advice, the cadres started throwing stones, blocked the road as well as smashing police equipment that was in the nearby Police Post.
Ms Libonga says this act left two police officers with head injuries forcing the Police to use tear gas in order to disperse the riotous cadres.
She says 21 people were apprehended and are currently in custody and will be charged accordingly.
Ms Libongani states that apart from the two officers who were injured by the cadres, the police have not received any other report of injury or fatality as a result of the incident.
And Ms Libongani says Police are continuing with operations in Lubansenshi and Solwezi West in order to ensure that the remaining period is well policed.
She says officers will also monitor the movement of ballot boxes to the totaling centers until the whole process is over.
The Police Inspector General says voting in the two constituencies went on smoothly.