Father Cleophas Lungu

The Oasis Forum says it’s becoming increasingly alarmed at the trend of political intimidation and physical attacks against citizens and members of the private media.

It has cited the most recent incidents against Komboni Radio and Prime TV and generally the violation of human rights on Zambian citizens.

In a statement, Oasis Forum Chairperson Cleophas Lungu notes that these attacks appear to be an attempt by government to diminish dissenting voices of citizens to achieve their own end.

Fr Lungu says for democracy to thrive, basic human rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of movement and freedom of association must be allowed to exist without impediment.

He says this allows for the free flow of information to the Zambian citizens as well as the Zambian government who will subsequently be in a better position to understand what it is that the Zambian people need and want.

Fr Lungu adds that the unfortunate series of events exemplifies the need for the introduction of an enhanced Bill of Rights to address some of the shortfalls in the current Constitution such as the lack of the right against arbitrary detention which is evident currently, the right to media freedoms and the right to freedom of information.

He states that the Forum cannot stress enough how crucial it is to the welfare of the Zambian people that resources be found to conduct another referendum as soon as possible.

And Fr Lungu says any refinement of the Constitution must be done in order to make the drafting of it clearer and always in line with the will of the Zambian people as expressed in the Technical Committee’s Final Report of October 2014.

He says the Oasis Forum believes that the process of refinement should not include the removal or addition of any clauses in the Constitution which are contrary to what the will of the people is, as expressed in the Technical Committee’s Final Report and without consulting the people of Zambia.

Fr Lungu adds that the terms of reference for the process of refinement should be guided and protected by a statute to ensure that the process is free from political interference.

On the proposed Commission of inquiry on pre and post election violence, Fr Lungu says the Oasis Forum believes that there is no need for the proposed Commission of Inquiry.

He says the reasons behind the said electoral violence are well known and include having a deficient Public Order Act as well as the biased application of it, the lack of an independent and impartial Police Service and the lack of allowing the citizens freedom of expression and freedom of association, use of hate speech and playing of the tribal tag, as well as allowing cadres mainly from the ruling party to manage and control public places such as bus stations and markets instead of the Local Government.

Fr Lungu says the Oasis Forum believes that national resources could be better spent on more productive activities.