By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
HOME Affairs Minister Davies Mwila has refuted claims that members of the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) are not enjoying their freedom of assembly.
Mr Mwila said in Parliament yesterday that contrary to the assertions, the Government was committed to upholding the law and freedoms of Zambians and that no one was having their freedom of assembly being infringed upon.
Mr Mwila was giving a ministerial statement on a point of order raised by UPND Kalomo Central Member of Parliament (MP) Request Muntanga last week.
Mr Muntanga said the UPND members’ freedoms of expression, movement and assembly were being infringed upon by law-enforcement agencies.
He said on November 18 this year in Kitwe’s Cha Cha Cha Township, suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres pounced on them resulting in clashes.
Mr Mwila said the clashes were as a result of the UPND disregarding police advice to postpone their meetings.
“The police did not prevent them from enjoying their fundamental freedoms in line with the law,” Mr Mwila said.
He said that UPND president Hakainde Hichilema during his visit to the Copperbelt was allowed to hold closed-door meetings and he featured on two radio stations.
He said prior to the date in question, UPND wrote to police to notify them of their intention to hold public rallies on the Copperbelt.
Police suggested that the party moved their meetings to December and away from bus stations and markets because police had other commitments and could not provide security.
Mr Hichilema arrived in Ndola on November 16 and addressed a gathering at the UPND offices and featured on Sun FM Radio.
The next day, he held a number of activities in Chililabombwe and on November 18, the next day, UPND supporters gathered at the party office in Kitwe waiting for Mr Hichilema.
Unknown people, however, went to disrupt the gathering resulting in clashes.
Police rushed to the scene and stopped the clashes, nabbed seven and dispersed the people.
Later in the day, Mr Hichilema attempted to hold a meeting in Luanshya which police went to stop, resulting in clashes leaving one police officer injured and 26 people arrested.
Mr Mwila said the UPND acted unlawfully and their claims of infringement of their rights were baseless.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini ordered Kantombora UPND MP Derrick Livune to leave the House for passing loud comments as his Choma Central counterpart Cornelius Mweetwa was asking Mr Mwila a follow up question.