PF And UPND Top The List In Cases Of Violence, Bribery And Abusive Language During Campaigns
By Chileshe Mwango/ Balewa Zyuulu
The Human Rights Commission is concerned by the Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja`s directive to police officers to use unqualified force to maintain law and order.
Commission Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya says such a directive has the potential to be misconstrued as an order for police brutality, which is excessive and unwarranted use of police force.
Mr Muleya says in the past, the use of force by the police has resulted in grave violation of human rights such as the right to life through extra-judicial killings, the right to protection against cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and the right to liberty through arbitrary arrests and detention of suspects.
Mr Muleya has advised the police to operate within the provisions of the law because, notwithstanding the order by the IG, they will be held individually accountable through the courts of law in the event that they commit a crime or violate human rights during the course of enforcing the law.
And the Human Rights Commission is calling on political parties involved in political and electoral violence to direct their supporters to lay down machetes and other dangerous weapons and stop all forms of violence in order to create a peaceful electoral environment before, during, and after the 12th August 2021 general elections.
Meanwhile, the UPND Alliance has disclosed that Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja is avoiding the alliance’s request to meet him where they are seeking clarification on his statement where he has banned the distribution of face masks.
Addressing the media in Lusaka today, UPND Alliance Chairperson Ernest Mwansa says the UPND Alliance wants Mr. Kanganja to also explain to them how they can campaign in this election period amidst the restrictions he has imposed on the opposition political parties.
Mr Kanganja yesterday directed police officers across the country to ensure distributing face masks which politicians are using to gather large crowds is not allowed and use force to maintain law and order.
PHOENIX FM NEWS
The post PF And UPND Top The List In Cases Of Violence, Bribery And Abusive Language During Campaigns appeared first on Phoenix FM.