SPECIAL Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe says the nation will be informed at an appropriate time on the findings of the investigations which President Edgar Lungu ordered into the shooting of two people.
Last week President Lungu directed Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja to present a report on the death of state prosecutor Nsama Nsama and UPND member Joseph Kaunda to him by Monday.
In an interview on why there was no communication regarding the report yesterday, Chipampe said the nation would be informed at an appropriate time.
“The way I can put it is that you will be informed at an appropriate time. The nation will be informed on the findings,” Chipampe said.
When asked if the President received the Report, Chipampe said; “that one I won’t say yes or no. I won’t confirm.”
Nsama and Kaunda died on Wednesday last week as UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was being interrogated.
Police used live ammunition and tear gas, among other things in an effort to disperse some UPND sympathisers who had turned up to show solidarity to Hichilema.
In a statement after the shooting, President Lungu ordered Kanganja to present a report by Monday.
“First of all, my heart goes out to the families of Nsama Nsama Chipyoka and Joseph Kaunda, both of whom were killed by an unknown assailant or assailants yesterday in Lusaka. I am grieving with the families of these victims. My sincere condolences to the families. I have taken a moment to reflect on these senseless murders, and I have spoken to the inspector general of police to find out what could have really happened. As you heard from the inspector general of police yesterday, police are investigating this matter for the motive and to find out who is behind these killings. However, I now direct the inspect general to use every resource available to fully investigate these murders as quickly as possible. I must receive the report by Monday, 28th December, 2020,” directed President Lungu.
“The deaths of these two Zambians would, certainly have been avoided. But it seems we have cast aside our values as a country because we now believe politics or politicking must be our daily bread. We now believe it pays to spend time at police stations and courts, as cheerleaders of politicians, even over cases that we know little or nothing about. Even after being cautioned against going to the police station in this particular case, citizens, many in sponsored transport traversed there. In short, we have become pawns in other people’s games. Yesterday’s incidents were totally unnecessary to put it mildly. An individual, in his person, was called by the police to answer charges, and yet we saw multitudes of uninvited citizens thronging the police station. What was that about? In the meantime, a situation was created for mayhem and we end up with lives lost.”
One Response
Fire arms are weapons for shooting to kill targets. This means that from time to time, fire arms will injure, maim or kill targets, regardless of innocent or guilty. In this particular case, the incident took place in broad day light. The possibility of compensation is high but not automatic. The question is: what needs to be done when targets are killed? The answer is simple. The state will establish facts surrounding deaths. What type of weapon? What type of ammunition? What type of distance from target? What type of direction of bullet? What type of impact? These and many other questions can only be answered by qualified professionals. Their findings cannot be challenged without factual evidence. The warning to the youth of Zambia is this. Stay away from crowds bent on chaos and disrupting social peace. Wen youth hear a loud sound during protest or demonstration, then the sound is likely to be a gun shot. Youth need to channel complaints ad grievances through writing and media interviews. Protests and demonstrations are deadly, anywhere in the world. Be it China. Be it USA. Be it Zambia. Take time to glorify violent. Take time to glorify confrontation. Take time to glorify anarchy.