My home attackers known, says Inonge

VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina yesterday told Parliament that family members at her Nalolo home in Western Province were attacked by known people.

Mrs Wina said her house in the village is not guarded by the police nor by the royal establishment security.
“My house is near the kuta and the palace of the Litunga Lamboela, so it is easy for them to see what happens in that yard,” she said.
Mrs Wina said the attack on her relatives by suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres was true and she cannot cook up a story.
“What I have done is to calm PF members who feel that they can revenge. There is no need to take any revenge on anyone. Some of the people who were involved are known, some of them were not known,” she said.
She said it is time for politicians to condemn violence, especially by political cadres, saying she feels very sad to see young men and women incarcerated because of violence emanating from politics.
She said it is the leaders that incite young people to engage in violence.
And, meanwhile, Ms Wina is dismayed that girl children are being forced into marriage and some die at child birth.
Speaking during the Vice-President’s question time in Parliament yesterday, Mrs Wina said forcing girls in marriage puts their lives at risk
She said men who marry young girls violate their right to choice and other basic human rights.
Mrs Wina condemned traditional practices that put girls’ lives at risk, saying that it is unfortunate that some people have come to embrace the retrogressive culture at the expense of children’s welfare.
“Early marriages that Zambia is experiencing currently are costing the country a lot because girls are dying at childbirth,” said Mrs Wina.
The Vice-President condemned men who are perpetrating early marriages for sending minors to the grave early.
She, however, assured that Government is working with co-operating partners to address early marriages with the seriousness the matter deserves by attempting to criminalise the offence.
Meanwhile, Mrs Wina has dismissed assertions by opposition members of Parliament that the electronic voucher system has failed.
She said the Minister of Agriculture, Given Lubinda, will issue a ministerial statement in the House about the e-voucher at an appropriate time so that parliamentarians can have facts and stop speculating.
And Government has warned that it will not condone overzealousness in police officers.
Deputy Minister of Home affairs Gerry Chanda (PF) told Parliament yesterday that police officers who exceed their authority do not have Government’s support.
Colonel Chanda was responding to a question by Chadiza (MMD) MP Allan Mbewe who wanted to find out why politicians are arrested on Fridays denied bail and access to their lawyers.
Col Chanda said Government was in the process of introducing a new police training curriculum that will help police uphold human rights and portray a good image of the Zambia Police Service.

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