Monday, 10th May, 2021 Press Release on Why President Chagwa Lungu Should Unconditionally Release Economic and Equity Party (EEP) President ChilufyaTayali in order to pay undivided attention and give an example of Patriotic Front Cadres who assaulted Police Officers, Journalists and Others
By Kasebamashila Kaseba
Media Consultant, News Critic and Analyst – +260 96 5122333
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu recently at Monday 3rd May 2021 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) on the theme: ‘Infomation as a public good’ issued a final warning within a final warning to Zambia Police (ZP) Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja following Patriotic Front (PF) Party cadres assault of police officers, journalists, other cadres plus damage of property at PF Party Secretariat during the defection reception of National Democratic Congress (NDC) President Chishimba Kambwili defection reception.
Economic and Equity Party (EEP) President Chilufya Tayali posted a 39 minutes online video on social media that not only condemned the PF party cadre violence but also blamed it on President Lungu as Commander-In-Chief of All Armed Forces, PF President and PF Presidential candidate for forthcoming 2021 elections.
Zambia Police who earlier arrested Innocent Kalimanshi, as a victim of that assault, also arrested Tayali for defamation of the President (which law still includes foreign princes) for social media video condemnation of PF Party cadre violence on President Lungu.
Defamation of President in Section 69 of the Penal Code Act, Chapter 87 reads;
“69. Any person who, with intent to bring the President into hatred, ridicule or contempt, publishes any defamatory or insulting matter, whether by writing, print, word of mouth or in any other manner, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years. (No. 6 of 1965).”
Mr Lungu who is allegedly defamed also appointed the Munalula Lisimba Commission on Voting Patterns and Political Violence from 2006 to 2016 and recently constituted the Police Public Complaints Commission (PPCC) with the same condemnation of violence.
Apart from State institutions, he has also repeatedly invited other political and Church leaders, like Tayali, to condemn political cadre violence and called for “peace before, during and after 2021 elections”.
Like Tayali, the Commission recommended among others;
“(l) Political parties should take responsibility for the conduct and behaviour of their members and take appropriate action against erring members.
“Leaders of political parties should not reward party members and officials who are associated with violence and should openly denounce and disown such members;”
Therefore, Tayali only reflected both Mr Lungu and the Commission of Inquiry among others in condemnation of PF and other party cadre political violence.
Therefore, President Lungu must intervene for the unconditional release of Tayali because his arrest contradicts both Mr Lungu’s invitations for condemnation of violence by police overemphasis and unspecified defamation of the President when Tayali’s intent is clearly against political party cadre violence than President Lungu himself.
Further, Tayali becomes one of the few Party presidents arrested for defamation of the President for dissent or opposition.
President Lungu should release Tayali to concentrate on election campaigns and his PF party cadres to demonstrate that assaulting his uniformed police officers is even a more serious offense. He should protect his police officers from his PF Party cadres than promise police protection to assaulted journalists and declare (assaulted) police preparedness for 2021 elections.
Contact:
Kasebamashila KASEBA
Media Consultant, News Critic and Analyst – +260 96 5122333