It would have been insensitive to hold rally, but police must not impede future plans

By Daily Revelation Editor

The opposition two days ago cancelled their “Save Zambia rally” that was due to be held in Kitwe on December 09, 2023. They said they had done so as they were deeply saddened by the tragic death of the miners at Seseli Mine in Chingola.

They said they shall revisit their notification to the police in due course to hold the joint rally on the Copperbelt and later on, other parts of the country in the coming year as part of their collaborative efforts to offer alternative policies to the electorates.

The police for their part in their letter stated to have been issued on December 04, 2023, argued that because of what had happened in Chingola, Kitwe officers were also fully involved in the ongoing rescue, recovery operations on site. They stated that Kitwe communities were grieving too, and that given the circumstances, the planned rally should not go ahead, and urged opposition parties to dialogue with police at the earliest convenient time to set an alternative date for the said rally, preferably next year (2024).

We agree with both the opposition parties and the police for cancelling the rally to another date. It would have been completely insensitive for the opposition parties to go ahead with their rally given the prevailing circumstances on the Copperbelt. Our prayers and attention should all be focused on the unfortunate situation prevailing in Chingola right now, where many were buried underneath with chances of survival very slim, despite the survival of one miner so far. But apart from those lives who were buried underneath, several other Zambians are having to work extra hard, for many at the risk of their own lives as they conduct the search and recovery operation. It’s not an easy situation. Life is more important than any political engagement.

The opposition will be encouraged to revisit their plans once the nation has gotten through this very tragic period whose duration cannot be determined right now.

But when that time comes, and while dialogue with the police is very important as with any other situation, the job of the police should be to facilitate the rallies towards the enhancement of democracy in the country, and not find ways to block them.

We are sure that when that time comes, that the opposition political parties will as usual notify the police of their intentions to hold their stated Copperbelt and other countrywide rallies. That is as far as they can go in terms of fulfilling their statutory obligations with the police on this matter.

The police is urging the opposition to engage in that dialogue preferably next year. Well if the rescue operation will still be on by that time, it will be wise for the opposition to be considerate of the situation. However, if by chance the operation will be over way before next year, the opposition can revisit their plans any time. It is not up to the police to decide for the opposition when they should hold their rallies, conditions prevailing. The role of the opposition is about notifying the police and the police doing whatever is necessary for the conduct of those rallies

We have noticed this unfortunate situation, especially during this and the previous administration where they go to the limit in terms of using the police to impede rallies and other opposition gatherings. Such should not be entertained in this country. They should try to emulate especially the MMD administrations of late Levy Mwanawasa and Rupiah Banda, who despite the obvious popularity of their opponent, Michael Sata, allowed a situation where he could hold his rallies in Lusaka and across the country.