Police conduct towards media worrying – Chipenzi

Electoral expert McDonald Chipenzi says the conduct of the Police especially towards the media and members of the opposition is worrying, and a clear act of undermining Zambia’s democratic credentials.

Mr. Chipenzi says the current unfavorable trend, which has demonstrated itself through the harassment of media practitioners and institutions and members of the opposition, is the worst of its kind since the country’s return to multiparty democracy in 1990.

He says the harassment of a Muvi TV journalist in Kasama and Prime TV journalist on the Copperbelt respectively by police officers coupled with the visible silence from the government officials is the most unfortunate incident of the time and speaks volumes of the kind of state Zambia has been turned into.

Mr. Chipenzi says the country’s democracy is currently facing its highest level of test especially coming from an election.

He adds that the continued harassment of the media without government protection or indeed condemnation is undermining the Bill of Rights.