Sata demands thorough PF violence probe

Mr Lungu said in Parliament on Tuesday that the President had ordered that no stone should be left unturned over the matter.
“The President personally called me and directed me that I should not leave any stone unturned in this matter and that I should not allow anyone, regardless of their standing in society, to interfere in the investigations,” Mr Lungu said.
He said this when concluding debate on the 2014 National Budgetary allocation to the Zambia Police Service.
He said the conduct of police officers in the matter was impeccable and that it was not correct to state that they were watching people committing offences helplessly.
Mr Lungu took a swipe at some media institutions giving false reports that more than three people died in the fracas when it was only one person.
“There has been reckless and false reporting by some private media that two or three people died in the violence, this is irresponsible reporting,” he said.
The minister said he had engaged the ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services to ensure that such media houses were censured.
He warned political leaders in the habit of interfering with security operations that they would be dealt with harshly.
Contributing to the debate, MMD Nalikwanda MP Geoffrey Lungwangwa said the Police should not be used as instruments of repression.
Professor Lungwangwa said the Ministry of Home Affairs had the responsibility of working together with Cabinet to ensure peace and stability prevailed in the country.
He said lack of team work among Cabinet ministers and attacking each other in the media was compromising the stability of the country.
“If Cabinet ministers attack each other in public, the country cannot have peace and stability, no wonder party cadres are openly fighting,” Prof Lungwangwa said.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Choma Central MP Cornelius Mweetwa said police officers should desist from being biased in their execution of duties.
Mr Mweetwa said the Police should not be seen to be favouring the party in Government.
UPND Lukulu West MP Misheck Mutelo said the violence being perpetrated by some senior members in the PF was putting President Sata in a difficult situation.
MMD Chembe MP Mwansa Mbulakulima said the violence was a source of worry and needed serious attention.