…As political tensions mount
By Harry Taruva Kwedu News Editor
An emotionally charged Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has said he will deploy the Zambian military into the streets to deal with perpetrators of violence if the country’s police show lack of Commitment to fight violence.
Addressing a media conference last week, Hichilema said
” We will not allow hooliganism, thuggery,brutality and bloodshed..Law enforcement agency not there to negotiate whether to arrest somebody or put them in when they turn violent
” Anyone in politics, in church ,civil society or HH’s house orchestrating violence, you are on your own. If the police fail ,I will use the army. That is my job as commander in Chief,That is the constitutional right of the Head of State…if police fail I will use the military to restore law and order” the Zambian President said.
The Southern African nation has been rocked by political and tribal clashes between the opposition and Hichilema’ s ruling UPND party. Meanwhile the Zambian opposition has strongly condemned the threat by Hichilema to deploy the army accusing him of heavy handed tactics.
There have been several clashes between supporters of former President Edgar Lungu and Hichilema’ s ruling party. In recent times ,state security agencies and police have been accused of banning and disrupting Lungu’s political meetings saying they are illegal.
In May this year, Independent opposition Mp Emmanuel Banda was allegedly abducted after he mysteriously disappeared on a Saturday and resurfaced at a farm 43 km south of the Capital Lusaka. He was detained at Hospital and later discharged after treatment for injuries sustained during the abduction. The Zambian police launched an investigation with Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu saying government had no hand in his abduction. The Zambian opposition blames the Hichilema government and ruling party for persecuting the opposition while Hichilema blames former President Lungu for fermenting violence and hatred.
