I’m not aware Pilato, others had permit-Cop

BY NATION REPORTER A Police Chief Inspector at Lusaka’s Emmasdale police station yesterday testified in a Lusaka Magistrates Court that he was not aware that a permit had been issued to people who protested outside parliament over the purchase of fire tenders.

Police Chief Inspector Anthony Phiri said he only worked under instructions to oversee security and maintain order around parliament grounds.

This is in a case in which human rights activist, Laura Miti, musician )umba &hama a.k.a Pilato and four others are charged with disobeying lawful orders after a peaceful protest against the purchase of fire tenders.

The accused were arrested outside Parliament building yard in Lusaka on 6eptember , as they were protesting the purchase of fire trucks worth million. 7estifying before Lusaka principal resident magistrate Mwaka Mikalile, ,nspector Phiri said he received instructions that no one should enter parliament premises without an invitation.

“Around 13hrs I saw a group of people along Great East road approaching parliament, at first my officers and , did not do anything,” he said.

He said when they started coming towards parliament building carrying placards he went to find out if they were invited because instructions where that all people going to parliament must have invitations or must be Members of Parliament.

“They said they had no invitation card but they had requested for a permit to go ahead with the protest, all this took place during the budget presentation at parliament. “I ordered them about three times to go back but they insisted on going to parliament using parliament road, that’s when , instructed officers to arrest all those that were involved in the protest” he said.

“I apprehended one person on parliament road leading to parliament, , came to know him as 6ean Tembo,” he said

And during cross examination, defense counsel Keith Mweemba asked what authority the officer used to order them to stop the protest despite the protestors having had a police permit to hold a peaceful protest. Trial continues on August 10,2018.