NO MILITIAS

WE do not think there is any need for a political party to form a militia when the nation has a bona fide police service to handle internal security.

And no one can say the Zambia Police Service has failed to provide security for the nation.

It might have had some problems here and there, but this does not make it irrelevant to providing security in the nation.

We find it disturbing that the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has reportedly set up a militia within its ranks in Kalumbila.

Militias in political parties are often a harbinger of social unrest and should not be encouraged whether by the ruling party or those in opposition.

It is in this vein that we support Reverend Mubanga Mutale of the Holy Trinity Pentecostal Assemblies who has said the so-called militia should be dismantled.

In an interview, Rev Mutale called on the police to quickly effect an arrest before the cadres put the country on fire.

Rev Mutale has rightly expressed concern that despite the cadres going on social media to publicise their activities, the authorities have not taken any action.

He was commenting on the video that has gone viral where UPND cadres from Kalumbila have formed a group calling itself UPND FBI.

It is in the public domain that a senior member of the UPND in the North-Western Province recently warned that youths would physically “sort out” those who were insulting President Hakainde Hichilema.

Of late, there have been disturbing statements within the UPND youth ranks of taking the law into their own hands to attack those they perceive to be insulting President Sinkala.

In the Kalumbila case, it is obvious that the militia members have gone ahead with the formation of this “army” with the tacit approval of some of their leaders.

The UPND top brass must therefore step in before the situation gets out of hand. They must impress upon their members that they are heading in the wrong direction.

Rev Mutale said it was particularly sad that despite the UPND cadres exhibiting their hooliganism on social media, the minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Mr Jack Mwiimbu, has opted to remain silent.

We agree with Rev Mutale that if the UPND cadres are left unchecked without taking action there would be anarchy in the nation.

We do not think the UPND would want to encourage anarchy when it campaigned on a platform of restoring law and order in the country as opposed to caderism.

Whatever their grievances concerning the operations of the police service, forming militias is wrong.

What would stop other political parties from forming their own militias as a form of defence and protecting their own?

PURSUING JUSTICE AND EQUITY WITH INTERGRITY