Zambia under ECL safe

Kampyongo says all incidents that provided insecurity has been removed and promised to crush all wrongdoers

By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka (08-03-2020) – Home Affairs Minister Steven
Kampyongo has declared all the dreadful situations in Zambia which recently was characterised with gassing which led citizens to resort to mob killing of suspected gassers are under control and has advised the people not to worry.
Kampyongo told journalists at the PF sponsored Interactive Forum held at Longacre Lodge in Lusaka that president Edgar Lungu measures in place that will ensure safety to all the people living in Zambia.
According to Kampyongo trouble began on 29th November 2019 the entire family was brutally killed by enemies of peace.
After this murderous adventure, some individuals began to gas innocent people living in unfinished homes the situation he said was extended to other parts of the country.
Overwhelmed by this bad experience, Kampyongo said the people began to take the law in their hands to riot and property destroyed.
He observed that what propagated the situation was false alarm by people with bad intentions.

He warned that the police have now acquired news gadgets to use in the investigating the people that in the habit of abusing internet.
Using these gadgets, the police were able to arrest one murder suspect who took part in circulating pictures and videos of people alleged to have been killed by the mobs in protest of the gasing that took place in the country recently.
He said the situation in Chingola which become tense after innocent people were attacked and people lost lives.
While acknowledging that there were genuine cases of gassing, Kampyongo said a good number of events alleged to have taken place emanated from false alarms and were exaggerated resulting to over 50 killed by people that chose to take the law in their own hands.
Kampyongo observed that of the 50 people killed after being accused of gassing, some were victims of false accusations as was the case of a Chililabombwe man who was killed by the mob after a woman gassing after some differences.
Thanks to God, Kampyongo said the women who led to dead of an honest man is among several other people that were rounded up by police for riotous behaviour in difference parts of the country where gasing incidents took place.
He wondered why the people in a country that once used to be celebrated of being the most peaceful a has developed a tradition of being superstitious to the extend that they are killed taking courage to kill fellow human being.
He vowed never to leave any stone unturned until all the people that took part in mob killing face the full wrath of the law.
He commended the judiciary for deny constitutional bail to the people that took part in mob justice until the due process of the law is completed.
Kampyongo commended president Lungu as commander in chief for armed forces to allow the defence personnel to beef up security in the work of gasing.
He said the current number of police officers in Zambia is not enough to put the situation under control hence the move by the president to assign the military.
He said since the army moved in to beef up security as directed by the president, the risk has drastically reduced.
He clarified that all the offenders  arrested by the army were surrendered to the police who have the mandate to prosecution as provided by the law.
The minister also took time to admonish the people trying to politicise arrest of a prominent Chingola businessmen Kabaso Mulenga by way  of forcing the police to disclose the name(s) of people alleged to have been murdered to wait until the matter is taken to court.
Kampyongo said discussing this subject is not only inimical to the on going investigation but also tantamount to taking law in wom hands.
Kampyongo said he supported the idea entertained by president Lungu of instituting a commission of inquiry to probe the motive behind tie gassing incidents that took place in Zambia.
Kampyongo strongly believe that there are people some where who have a knowledge of what was taking place but for some reason could not come out in the open to speak.
The commission of inquiry will enable the timid good citizens to tell their story according to the terms of reference the inquiry will be given.”
He said the recommendation by president Lungu should be supported by all well meaning Zambians that want to see Zambia return to its original state of being the haven of peace.
He said whatever the president said during his state of nation address via parliament are fully backed by the law.
He advised the people criticising the speech of president Lungu to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the constitution.
He also said in an attempt to contral hate speech and tribalism, parliament recently passed a motion to criminalise hurt speech and tribalism.
He said hate speech and tribalism has the capacity to divide the country and ruin the peace the people have enjoyed this face.
He  urged the people to guard the country religiously warning that those that will be found promoting these twin vices will be dealt with regardless of the region, tribal and religion they come from.
He said Article 60 of the constitution outlaws acts of tribalism and hate speech.
Now that Parliament passed the law to criminalise the practice tribalism, those who will be found wanting for hate speech and tribalism will imprisoned up to two years.
He warned the people who are in a habit of not only circulating hurt speech either on social media or directly and are promoting tribalism will be doing so at own peril.
The minister further said the government is aware of plans by some people to confuse the security agents in their quest to derail their investigation.
Furthermore the minister endorsed the statement by the IG warning the Chingola thugs planning to protest over the arrest of Kabaso Mulenga to protest at own peril.
The arrest of Sparks is a warning to all though who think that being being closer to the president or government officials is a passport to break the law.
He said the government has a mission to create the peaceful environment where the people will leave in peace and do their works without any form of interference.
Speaking at the same function Cheembe Member of Parliament Sebastian Kapulande the SONA is defined by the constitution as provided by article 9 in 2016 constitution.
Kopolande said the president cannot speak to parliament on issues not outlined in the constitution.
He said Article 8 of the constitution outlines the issues which the president is supposed to address to parliament.
He said president Lungu’s speech to the nation via was in conformity with the provision of the constitution and outlined the successes his government has made so far as outlined by article 8.
He was particularly happy that the president dealt with the issues of security in the wake of the attack the people have suffered from the unscrupulous people.
He said what the president did last Friday was to report to parliament on the successes recorded in the matter of national security as told to him by the security agents.
Kopolande was also happy that the president addressed issues of child marriages, substance and alcohol abuses, including a abuse of internet in the country and the rising concerns over the gender based violence.
He said the president did well to denounce tribalism and hate speech because this was an act of unpatriotic saying this will help the people to live as one and continue to develop it.
Kopolande also acknowledged the importance of democracy and constitutionalism in the function of the Zambian society.
He said the only body of allowed by the constitution to make the constitution in Zambia as provided by article 62 of the constitution is parliament.
He said when it come to onstitution making, article 79 gives power to parliament to alter the constitution.
He said the people of Zambia through their representatives want to have the constitution altered via bill 10.
He convinced beyond doubt that bill after receiving submission to people over 84 will pass.
The success of any government can only be understood at the level in which the development is taking place.
Meanwhile Kapolande fisclised that the PF has recorded great successes in many areas but the greatest of it all is the infrastructure development, poverty levels reduced, employment opportunities created and now the people are benefiting from their efforts of putting the PF in government.
He said every where in the country schools, hospitals and road network have been put up using CDF.
He said the people have been given running water in areas where the people have had no tap water, markets have been built to enable the people trade in good markets, communication towers have been made, the police post have also been built.
He said the people in areas affected by the negative effects of climate change are receiving food from the DMMU and the lions clubs.
In efforts to industrialised the country, Kopolande said the government is putting industries in various parts of the country all aimed at reducing the number of the unemployed youths.
He said in some parts of the country, the government want is introducing the multifacilite zones  to broaden the scope of development.
He said the roadnetworks are being upgraded and the farm blocks are being created.