By Chinoyi Chipulu
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean Tembo says President Hakainde Hichilema must tell the nation whether the country has degenerated into a lawless society or he is failing to do his job as Commander-In-Chief.
A week ago, soldiers went on rampage beating civilians at Villa mall in Ndola, and destroyed people’s property, among them Chifubu Member of Parliament Lloyd Lubosha’s five star night club.
And Two weeks ago in Mufulira, some army recruits clobbered residents, including Kankoyo Member of Parliament Heartson Mabeta in the central business district following a misunderstanding with taxi drivers, who allegedly beat up one of them.
Tembo told Daily Revelation that it was disappointing that no action was made after the two incidences to deter would be offender’s.
“These victims go away with lifetime injuries and scars for no good reason and without compensation. So we want to challenge the President to tell the nation whether this country has degenerated into a lawless society or he is failing to do his job as Commander in Chief. He should state whether he has failed to control the military so that they stop harassing and assaulting innocent civilians,” he said
“If he has failed then he needs to tell the nation so that a more capable leader can takeover his role and position,”
Tembo said the country needed a leader who would be able to control officers and ensure they operated within the confines of the law.
“As PEP, we are disappointed with the behavior of the military officers who beat civilians. This happened in Mufulira and now in Ndola. We are surprised that no action has been taken by the military command or Commander in Chief,” he said.
Tembo said that this is the highest act of lawlessness that has been portrayed by the military officers.
“It should be remembered that Zambia is a democratic country. We are a constitutional democracy whereby everyone is required to live within the confines of the constitution,” he said.
And Golden Party leader Jackson Silavwe said the officers involved should be disciplined in order to restore order.
Silavwe said that violent officers were a danger to the nation as one can not predict what they can do next .
“Whether their fellow is injured, they are not above the constitution of the country which doesn’t allow the army to be violent and start beating people. The laws of the land only allows police to handle cases of violence and assault. No institution allows them to take law into their own hands,” he said.
“There should be an open line between the police and the defence forces so that when there is a reported aggrievance on army officers, it receives immediate attention so that they don’t feel their reporting is not in vain,” he said.
He called on the President to take keen interest in such cases before the escalate.
“Army officers who take law into their hands do not belong in the army because in future what they will embark on is something that will not only affect a small neighborhood but the entire nation,” he said.
Silavwe urged the public to desist from provoking the Zambia army officers.
