Kampasa killings inquiries

By STEVEN MVULA

TWO inquiries have been opened into the Kampasa killings that occurred on Zambia National Service (ZNS)-owned land in Chongwe a fortnight ago, and the shooting of a soccer fan in Ndola, Parliament has heard.
Two dockets of murder have been opened and one arrest has been made as the probe continues, said Minister of Home Affairs Edgar Lungu in a ministerial statement yesterday.
Two people were shot dead by ZNS soldiers during an attempt to evict 300 people who have settled on the land belonging to the military wing for many years.
Mr Lungu told Parliament that police and the ZNS commands have opened inquiries into the matter as he pledged to remain in his job amidst calls for his resignation as a result of the shootings from Petauke legislator Dora Siliya.
Mr Lungu said for any possible further arrest, an identification parade and examining the firearms involved in the crime shall be conducted.
“The ZNS has appointed a body of inquiry to ascertain what happened at Kampasa, resulting in the killing of two people. The police have equally opened an inquiry into the matter…an officer has already been arrested,” Mr Lungu said.
He explained that the Kampasa community encroached on the ZNS land some 20 years ago and that Government even facilitated the allocation of 50 hectares of the ZNS land to the settlers.
Mr Lungu said the squatters instead demanded more land and on the day of the shooting, ZNS soldiers were surrounded by the settlers.
He said Government is concerned about the shooting and regrets it but the PF government will not tolerate lawlessness in land acquisition.
“The PF government respects the rule of law and we will not allow anyone to grab land in the name of the ruling party. We will not allow anarchy,” Mr Lungu said.
On the incident in Ndola, in which a soccer fan was shot and seriously wounded, Mr Lungu said a police officer has been arrested in connection with the shooting.
The officer was attempting to disperse a crowd jostling to buy tickets for last Saturday’s Zambia versus Sudan World Cup qualifier.
And Mr Lungu told Parliament that the PF has no culture of violence. He said some MMD cadres have “transformed themselves” into PF cadres and are causing confusion.
Mr Lungu said the party does not condone violence from anyone, regardless of political affiliation.
He was responding to a question raised by Chembe member of Parliament (MMD) Mwansa Mbulakulima, who wanted to know if the PF has embraced violence.