Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
NGOCC Board Chairperson Sara Longwe
The Non Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) is deeply saddened by the recently witnessed Police brutality perpetuated against innocent women and men alleged to be opposition party cadres and others like Komboni Radio Proprietor Lesa Kasoma Nyirenda.
NGOCC Chairperson Sarah Longwe says her organization joins the Human Rights Commission in strongly condemning the unprecedented levels of brutality that has been advanced against unarmed citizens, especially women, including the latest one involving Ms. Nyirenda by six Police Officers.
Ms Longwe says it has also come to the attention of her organization that another woman in Mpongwe identified as Yvonne Chandalala was badly beaten by Police where she sustained serious back injuries making her unable to walk properly or even stand.
She says it is unbelievable that the Police are now advancing excuses of perpetuating such barbaric acts out of self-defense.
The NGOCC Board Chairperson wonders whether the police service has reverted back to being police force.
Ms Longwe has called on all peace loving Zambian citizens to rise up and condemn this manifestation of overzealousness of inflicting such dehumanizing barbarism on innocent citizens by the Zambia Police.
Ms Longwe adds that Zambia is a signatory to several Human Rights charters including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which all citizens caught up in the Police brutality were subjected to.
She says NGOCC does not equally agree with the explanation advanced by the Vice President Inonge Wina to Parliament that Ms. Nyirenda provoked the situation by attacking the police.
The NGOCC Board Chairperson has reiterated that the Police Service is bound by common principle and it is their mandate to safeguard life, law and order within reasonable boundaries of force.