Press Statement dated Thursday 24th December 2020 on the Police Shooting of Unarmed Citizens in Lusaka, Zambia

by editor · January 5, 2021

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President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (right) being welcomed by Bishop Dr. Joshua Banda at Show Grounds in Lusaka. This was during the Installation of Bishop Joshua Banda as the Presiding Bishop and unveiling of the new Council of Bishops of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Zambia on Sunday,December 27,2020. PICTURE BY SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE ©2020

PRESS STATEMENT DATED 24^TH DECEMBER 2020 ON THE POLICE SHOOTING OF UNARMED CITIZENS IN LUSAKA

By Linda Kasonde

Executive Director

https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-kasonde-4025a08/

No. 1 of Plot 6941

Suez Road, Cathedral Hill (Next to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross)

P.O. Box 51378 Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: +260 211 257001
Email: linda.kasonde@cof.org.zm

In any functioning democracy, citizens have the constitutional right to freely assemble and associate. We, the undersigned civil society organisations, note that yesterday United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema was summoned for questioning at the Police Service Headquarters.

We equally note the heavily armed police presence on the streets surrounding the Police Headquarters including armoured vehicles, and military helicopters.

As crowds gathered in support of Mr. Hichilema, the police fired teargas and live ammunition to disperse the crowd.

United Party for National Development (Upnd Zambia Forward) leader Hakainde Hichilema is received at the Rhodespark Secretariat by Chairman Ms. Mutale Nalumango, Lusaka Youth Chairperson Anderson Banda and National Management Team (NMT) on Thursday 10th December 2020 Lusaka, Zambia – Pictures by Derrick Sinjela Rainbow Zambia

slain National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) Prosecuter Nsama Nsama Chipyoka

slain UPND Kafue cadre Joseph Kaunda

As a result, two unarmed citizens, Mr. Nsama Nsama and Mr. Joseph Kaunda, were shot dead by the police.

We strongly condemn the senseless killing of Mr. Nsama, a hapless bystander who was a state prosecutor in the National Prosecutions Authority and himself a former policeman, and a Zambian youth identified as Mr. Joseph Kaunda of Kanyama compound at the hands of the police.

The use of live ammunition by the Zambia Police Service against unarmed citizens was excessive, careless, and avoidable, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

We are concerned that use of brutal force appears to be the first resort whenever the Zambia Police are attempting to control crowds.

In February 2020, we witnessed the killing of a schoolboy, Frank Mugala, who was killed in a similar incidence and before that the killing of university student Vespers Shimunzhila and many other incidents at the hands of the police.

We therefore demand a change in this approach because yesterday’s events demonstrate how dangerous it is.

Frank Mugala shot and killed by trigger-happy Zambia Police Force

University student Vespers Shimunzhila

Deputy Speaker of the Zambian National Assembly Catherine Namugala mourns Frank Mugala in Lusaka

In addition, the actions of the Zambia Police Service in firing live rounds in a crowd of unarmed protesters and killing Zambians is a violation of Zambians’ fundamental rights to life, freedom of expression and freedom of association.

The actions of the police service also violate its constitutional mandate to protect lives, ensure the security of people, promote a good relationship with the members of society and to uphold the Bill of Rights.

We urge the Zambia Police Service to exercise restraint in this particularly sensitive period leading up to the 2021 general elections to allow for an environment in which free and fair elections can be held.

Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo

We remind the Police Service of its constitutional mandate to protect Zambians and to act in a way which results in an improved relationship with the members of the Zambian society at large.

We also call on the authorities to bring the perpetrators of this needless killing to book in the shortest possible time in the interests of justice. Furthermore, given the continued trend of unarmed citizens being killed by the police, we are of the view that the police service has failed in its duty to protect and defend innocent citizens.

We therefore call upon the Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Stephen Kampyongo and the Inspector-General of Police Mr. Kakoma Kanganja, to resign on moral grounds because their positions have become untenable.

Be professional Kakoma Kanganja begs Zambian cops
…as Mwata Kazembe XIX Paul Mpemba Kanyembo seeks a peaceful Thursday 17th September 2020 by-election

If the two do not resign, we urge President Edgar Lungu to dismiss them for presiding over a trigger-happy Police Service that appears to have no regard for human life.

Finally, we send our profound condolences to the Nsama and Kaunda families on their loss. It is particularly poignant as it falls on the eve of Christmas. Whilst loss of life can never be adequately atoned for, we urge the State to quickly step in to compensate the families of the two victims.