‘Curb assaults with tougher laws’

THERE is need to stiffen the laws to address the escalating assault cases in the country, a youth activist has said.

Twaambo Mutinta said assault cases had become rampant in Zambia because perpetrators were left scot-free or given soft sentences.

Mr Mutinta said the reluctance by the authorities to apply the law against the perpetrators was the major factor contributing to the increase of assault cases.

If stiff punishment was taken against offenders such acts would have drastically reduced.

Section 247 of the Constitution of Zambia states that “any person who unlawfully assaults another is guilty of a misdemeanour and if the assault is not committed in circumstances for which a greater punishment is provided in this code, is liable to imprisonment for one year”.

Section 248 states that any person who commits an assault occasioning actual bodily harm is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable for five years.

And section 249 states that any person who assaults and strikes or wounds any magistrate, officer or other person lawfully authorised in or on account of the execution of his duty in or concerning the preservation of any vessel in distress, or of any vessel or goods or effects wrecked, stranded, or cast on shore or lying under water is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

But Mr Mutinta observed that the law had not been applied appropriately to punish those who come into conflict with the law.

He said the country had seen an unusual number of assault cases and gender based violence, some resulting in death and this called for serious reflection.

"Mostly, when such cases happen, people don't bother. They think it is normal thing to assault someone because when a person is taken to court no stiff action is taken against perpetrators,” he said.

“If those who do well in life are involved in such acts they intimidate people or they just pay off the victim and it ends there. I think the courts must be aggressive on perpetrators because this is becoming unacceptable," Mr Mutinta said.

He said perpetrators should be punished according to the law so that the acts can be completely eradicated.

Mr Mutinta said such violence must not be overlooked because more people who be affected as could be seen by media reports.