Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Green party President Peter
Green party President Peter says the economic woes affecting miners on the Copperbelt do not require repression but require intelligible and judicious policy interventions.
Mr. Sinkamba says it is only through policies and consistency in policies that issues surrounding the mines on the Copperbelt can be tackled.
He says it is shocking that a State of Emergency has been declared by Government on the Copperbelt because there is no grave emergency which exists whereby the security, the economic life, or public order in the area or any part thereof is threatened.
Mr. Sinkamba has told QFM News that the whole move to impose a state of emergency is uncalled for in this era of modernism and civility citing that it is a clear case of abuse of State of Emergency provisions by Government.
He says the motive to suspend Article 21 of the Constitution of Zambia on the Copperbelt, so as to allow the State agencies to suppress internal opposition without having to respect human rights is ill-conceived, appalling and needs to be reversed straightaway.
Mr. Sinkamba explains that the President in consultation with Cabinet may declare a state of emergency only when the life of the nation or an area is threatened by war, invasion, general insurrection, disorder, natural disaster or other public emergency, and where the ordinary laws and government powers are not sufficient to restore peace and order.
He says this is not the case on the Copperbelt and hence there is no need to declare a state of emergency on the Copperbelt.