The Zambia Police Service, at the pace officers are conducting themselves, risks becoming a rogue force under Inspector General Graphel Musamba. Police are fallible, we don’t expect them to always make correct decisions, but in moments where they do act contrary to the law and that wrong is pointed out, there has to be a clear statement from the leadership condemning the development. The summoning of Fr Chewe Mukosa for questioning over a church sermon, for example, stands out as one embarrassing episode for the police. What is strange is that, there was no admission of guilt from the police. Even when the government, through its official spokesperson, condemned the action, police have remained silent as if nothing happened. They have opted to protect the police officer or officers who did that. This is not good in a country that should be shining as a beacon of democracy.
We also note that the President Hakainde Hichilema himself has not made any reference to that embarrassing development. He has not made any comment and he has avoided the topic completely. This sends a message that President Hichilema is not keen to reign on the conduct of the Inspector General of Police and his men. It becomes a betrayal of the democratic values that we espouse. The President must remember that when former president Edgar Lungu failed to publicly condemn the bad actions of the police, citizens concluded that the heavy-handedness came with his blessings. What the President says to the law enforcement wings privately doesn’t help him win the confidence of his voters. Those are the voters he promised that what is happening now would not happen under his watch. How has the UPND government failed to abstain from this temptation of abusing state machinery?
Just a couple of days ago, Police in Kafue detained two United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) leaders, two Journalists and NDC media director. Among those arrested were NDC leader Saboi Imboela, Golden Party leader Jackson Silavwe, KBN TV Reporter Innocent Phiri, Millennium TV Reporter Rodgers Meilimba and NDC Media director Mambwe Zimba. What reason would the police have for arresting journalists who are out to merely do their job? What threats do journalists carrying cameras at a news event pose to national security? This has to be stopped. It must not be happening, especially under the watch of President Hichilema.
History has shown that, without exception, every government since independence has been intolerant on freedom of assembly and speech. For too long, Zambia has constantly teetered on the brink of authoritarianism, its democratic principles slowly being eroded by the very guardians entrusted to uphold them. Under President Hichilema’s administration, we are seeing the Zambia Police Service morphing into a tool of repression rather than protection. During his time in opposition, President Hichilema was a very vocal critic of the abuse of power by the PF, decrying violations of human rights, freedom of speech, and assembly. Yet, with reins of power firmly in his grasp for just short of three years, President Hichilema’s silence in face of continued violations of human rights by the Zambia Police Service is deafening. As we have stated above, his failure to address these egregious violations not only condones them but actively enables the erosion of Zambia’s democratic fabric.
We agree with the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) position that the police actions are a serious disregard of our freedoms enshrined in the Republican Constitution. Indeed, the police must immediately align with democratic tenets.
It is also concerning to note that our cooperating partners have suddenly developed glossophobia. We are seeing diplomats who used to be very vocal a few years ago develop some suspicious speech anxiety. In keeping quiet in the face of these injustices, Zambia’s foreign friends may think they are being kind to the UPND leadership, but they are not helping, in fact, they are destroying them. The same can be said about some civil society organisations which have become spectators.
It is dangerous for a country when these institutions that were quick to condemn the slightest infringement of human rights, are now turning a blind eye to the escalating repression under President Hichilema’s watch. Their tacit endorsement of Zambia’s steady decent of abuse of human rights is nothing short of shameful. Zambia stands at a crossroads, with its democratic ideals hanging in the balance. President Hichilema has a moral obligation to uphold the principles he once championed. In the absence of decisive action, Zambia risks becoming yet another cautionary tale of democracy derailed. President Hichilema must heed the calls for justice, accountability, and the restoration of democratic values before it’s too late. The time for silence is over; the time for action is now.
