Uncategorized

Socialist Party accuses Zambian ruling UPND of abducting its candidates

Published

7 months ago

April 13, 2024

Zambian opposition party, the Socialist Party (SP), has accused the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) of masterminding the abduction of its candidate for the Kaunga Ward by-election in Luangwa district of Feira Constituency, Maneya Mwale.

The SP, in a statement in Lusaka, also called on security agencies to arrest the UPND’s Lusaka Province Chairperson, Obvious Mwaliteta, for the alleged abduction of Mwale.

SP’s Vice President, Dr Cosmas Musumali, said Mwaliteta should be arrested together with his District Chairperson, Anderson Banda.

Musumali, who made the call at a media briefing in Lusaka, alleged that Mwaliteta, Banda and other people mentioned kidnapped his party’s candidate.

He also accused the ruling party and President Hakainde Hichilema of being behind such activities that had continued to happen in all the ward elections in the country.

“Those who know this President know that he micromanages everything. He has hands on type of leadership and this kidnapping have not happened once but have been happening, nothing has been done, no one has been arrested, what’s the conclusion, the conclusion is that he is okaying it, he sees nothing wrong with it and the Head of State who swore to uphold the rights and Constitution of Zambia,” Musumali said.

“This is something that can not be done without HH tolerating it, facilitating it and even giving it a go ahead. If it’s done once I would agree with you that some rogue UPND members did it outside his control,” Musumali added.

He also claimed that the UPND was not ready to uphold the democratic tenets of the country and were using all means necessary to win the elections.

“The candidate in Kaunga Ward, like in the other 6 Wards, was abducted during the nominations day, which forced the Socialist Party to look for other candidates and Hichilema has remained silent on such activities,” Musumali noted.

Musumali further called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia to invalidate the nominations for Chikenge and Chisanga wards and set a new date for filling in of nominations.

“We further demand that the Commission should ban the UPND from participating in these two wards due to the crimes committed, which are against the electoral code of conduct,” he demanded.

He expressed that “hell would have broken lose had it been the other way round, and that Socialist Party leader Dr Fred M’membe would have been called all sorts of names by the UPND and their surrogates.”

“This is the winning formular for the UPND, kidnapping, abductions have become child’s play for them, they are endangering people’s lives, you have the audercity to abduct a 22 years old girl and pointing a gun to her head,” Musumali said.

Click to comment

Uncategorized

Zimbabwe bans police from using mobile phones while on duty

Published

5 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zimbabwean government has banned members of its police force from using mobile phones while on duty.

The ban, which is with immediate effect, was contained in a memo ordering police officers to abandon their private communication gadgets while on duty.

“All officers are required to surrender their mobile phones to their supervisors once they get to their stations and only use them during their break time,” part of the memo reads.

“Despite numerous instructions given forbidding use of cell phones whilst on duty by members of the police service, commanders are not enforcing this.

“No member is allowed to be in possession of a cell phone whilst on duty. Cell phones should only be used during break and lunch times.

“Officers in charge of police stations have been ordered to enforce the ban, with threats issued against those who do not comply. Once a member is found with a cell phone whilst on duty, the officer in-charge of the said member will be put to task,” the memo adds.

Local media reports that though no reasons were given for the ban, it is widely believed this could be part of efforts to curb police corruption.

“It comes a few days after two traffic enforcement officers were arrested in the capital, Harare, after a viral social media video exposed them taking bribes from public transport vehicles,” a media platform reported.

“The new mobile policy seeks to reinforce what appears to have been a previous order addressed to all stations late last month.”

Uncategorized

Zambia: Police arrests former MP Lusambo while hiding in ceiling

Published

3 days ago

November 2, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zambian Police has arrested a former Member of Parliament (MP), Bowman Lusambo, in connection with a case of inflicting unlawful injuries.

Lusambo, who was the MP of Kabushi Province, was arrested while hiding inside the ceiling in his home after he had been convicted in absentia by the Luanshya Magistrate Court, prompting the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest.

Police spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, who announced Lusambo’s arrest in a statement on Friday, emphasized the importance of enforcing court directives.

“In line with our duty to uphold court directives, the Zambia Police Service commenced an immediate search for Mr. Lusambo to effect the court’s order,” Hamoonga said in the statement.

He said officers located Lusambo at his residence “where he was found hiding in the ceiling.”

“Mr. Lusambo is now in police custody and will be presented to the court as directed by the bench warrant,” the police spokesman noted, while urging citizens to respect the rule of law and cooperate with law enforcement as they work to maintain peace and order in the country.