THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has raised concern over the increased arrests on members of the opposition political parties.
LAZ president Lungisani Zulu said the increased incidents of arrests effected on leaders of the opposition parties are unfortunate and counter-productive for the nation.
He noted that while leaders of opposition political parties, like all other citizens, must be held accountable when they breach the law in line with the rule of law, arrests which specifically targeted opposition leaders are an affront to the freedom of speech.
“What is further concerning is that these Political leaders when arrested, are not immediately released on police bond, despite the offences being bailable, and contrary to a progressive Presidential Directive to the Police to only arrest citizens at the conclusion of investigations and not to detain them any longer than is necessary,” he said.
He also expressed concern over developments surrounding Patriotic Front (PF), that there are too many external interferences by stakeholders including the state.
“The conduct of various state institutions clearly demonstrates a narrative that the state is interested in legitimizing the actions of one faction of the Patriotic Front over the other, even when the matter is yet to be finally determined by the courts of law.
In particular, the Speaker of the National Assembly proceeded to act on the instructions of one faction and effected change to the leadership of the National Assembly, even when fully aware the matter was contested among the parties in the courts of law,” he said.
He said the selection of a leader of opposition was not an internal matter as prescribed by the law and so LAZ will move the Constitutional Court to make pronouncements on the procedure.
“However, we call on the members of Parliament to accord Madam Speaker the requisite respect for her constitutional role of ensuring order in the House. No one gains, in fact citizens who look to Parliament to enact laws and hold the Executive accountable lose, when Parliament is ungovernable,” he said.
Mr Zulu further condemned the surrender of the Registrar of Societies, Thandiwe Mhende to Cabinet, stating that if the reason for her surrender is compliance to a subpoena, then the move was wrong as it could cower civil servants into illegality to please superiors.
(Mwebantu, Thursday, 16th November, 2023)