Invoking State of Emergency would be a violent response to violence – Sinkamba

Green Party Leader Peter Sinkamba says invoking a State of Emergency would be a violent response to violence.

Peter Sinkamba

In a statement issued to QFM News, Mr. Sinkamba says violence, whether by the State, bandits, vandals or terrorists, and in whatever form, and for whatever reasons, is almost always self-defeating because it breeds more and more violence.

Mr. Sinkamba states that the ultimate victims are innocent people who many a time have nothing to do with the scores the perpetrators intend to settle with their perceived enemies.

He says invoking the State of Emergency is State-sponsored terror in that the police, the army, and other security agencies are given unlimited power to reign terror on innocent citizens through dusk-to-dawn curfews where citizens will be unwarrantedly arrested and detained.

He adds that such measures will only exacerbate tension and divisions in the nation.

Mr. Sinkamba believes that the declaration of the State of Emergency is extremely uncalled for at this point in time, not only because the emergency measures will deprive citizens of their constitutional rights, but is likely also to adversely hurt the economy.

He states that the emergency measures will surely scare away the donors, investors and tourists.

Mr Sinkamba has since implored President Edgar Lungu to exercise maximum restraint on invoking emergency powers, stating that the negative consequences of such measures by far out-weigh the positive outcomes.