Zambia’s political climate worries Bishop Hard Mambo

President Edgar Lungu and ZAF Commander Lt Gen David Muma at Blue IBEX Hill Police Station 24th January 2020. Picture by State House Press Office

By Derrick Sinjela

FORMER Civil society for Constitution Agenda (CiSCA) Board Chairperson Bishop John Hard Mambo is alarmed at the deteriorating human rights situation in Zambia ahead of the country’s 2021 polls, worsened on Wednesday 23^rd January 2020, when a National Prosecution Authority (NPA) Prosecutor Nsama Nsama Chipyoka and Joseph Kaunda of the United Party for National Development (UPND) were killed by two live bullets.

A fortnight and a day after the shooting, Bishop Mambo has noted with dismay the increased hostility by state officials and security agents in Zambia towards the media and opposition elements in the run-up to the Thursday 12^th August, 2021 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections.

Currently serving as Chikondi (Love) Foundation President, Bishop Mambo reiterated his call for police officers across the Zambia’s ten (10) provinces namely; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern and Western  to exhibit professionalism during, before and after the Thursday 12^th August 2021 polls.

Justice Minister Given Lubinda, Bishop John Mambo with Lewis Mwape at Crests Golf View Hotel – Picture by Derrick Sinjela

“I am worried as trigger-happy individuals and uncompromising policepersons continue to intimidate and harass political parties and individuals with divergent viewpoints,” Bishop Mambo cried foul.

Bishop Mambo implored the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kakoma Kanganja and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Charity Katanga to provide a favourable environment for all political parties to campaign freely without been intimidated.

Meanwhile, Bishop Mambo says President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is not a bad person but he is surrounded by wrong people.