By Mwansa Kaumba
Transparency International Zambia says the hypocrisy demonstrated in Information minister Elvis Nkandu’s advice against protests over the third term is not lost on the CSOs, as not too long ago, a group of youths held a public procession in support of the removal of term limits, which procession culminated in them submitting a formal petition to a member of parliament.
Responding to Nkandu, TI-Z executive director Maurice Nyambe stated that he had noted with amusement the advice Nkandu, for CSOs that have expressed an intention to undertake a public procession in defence of the presidential term limits, to reconsider their intentions on the ground that there has been no formal indication from President Hakainde Hichilema that he will seek to remove term limits.
”While we understand Hon. Nkandu’s role as the mouthpiece of government, our considered view is that his advice goes against the fundamental rights and freedoms of expression and assembly as espoused in Article 11(b) of the Constitution of Zambia,” Nyambe stated. “It is not Mr Nkandu or government’s role to dictate to citizens how they should express themselves on any matter of public interest. Citizens can express themselves in whatever way they choose, as long as it is lawful. Our right to assemble and freely express our views as citizens is provided for in the supreme law of the land as referenced above.”
He stated that on that basis, they did not agree with the advice given by government through Nkandu.
”Beyond this, the hypocrisy demonstrated through that advice is not lost on us. Not too long ago, a group of youths held a public procession in support of the removal of term limits, which procession culminated in them submitting a formal petition to a Member of Parliament on this very subject,” Nyambe stated. “Why didn’t government advise those youths not to undertake a public procession for the same reasons that Hon. Nkandu has raised in his advice to CSOs? Does the advice not to express views through a public procession only count when it relates to views that are not aligned with the ruling party?
Why was the group supporting the removal of term limits allowed to march while CSOs are being advised not to?”
Nyambe stated that having carefully considered the advice given by Nakndu, CSOs have resolved to continue with our intention to express our views on a matter of public interest through a public procession.
”We remain confident that the Zambia Police Service, to whom we have submitted our formal notice, will act with professionalism and allow us to exercise our constitutional rights and freedoms in this respect, in the same manner that those who marched in support of removal of term limits were allowed to,” stated Nyambe.
