DON’T DRAG YOURSELVES IN POLITICS, POLICE TOLD
FORMER State House political adviser Chris Zimba has advised the police not to allow anyone to drag them in politics.
And Dr Zimba indicated that the police should not deliberately mislead themselves concerning the timely advice former President Edgar Lungu gave.
Dr Zimba said Mr Lungu’s statement was a strong caution to the police not to provoke and anger people’s emotions anyhow because many were already struggling with economic hardships, were unhappy and depressed.
He said this was objective, sound and practical advice to any government.
“Therefore, my appeal to Zambia police is that, don’t deliberately mislead yourselves concerning ECL’s statement. Don’t allow politicians to infringe on your professional integrity and institutional reputation.
Don’t accept to be dragged into partisan politics by anyone. This is important because, politics is like wind, it is never consistent in blowing towards one direction but ever changes directions any day, anytime,” Dr Zimba said.
He said Mr Lungu’s statement was conditional, if police brutal behaviour was not adjusted against citizens, it had the potential to trigger citizens’ protests, chaos and consequently force President Hakainde Hichilema to step down prematurely.
“Hungry and angry people easily rise up like they did in Tunisia in 2011. If the police keep on harassing and beating up innocent citizens like we saw at Kabwata police station, the same police will be directly undermining law and order and peaceful coexistence because hungry and angry citizens are too dangerous everywhere and anywhere,” he said.
Meanwhile, governance activist Isaac Mwanza said the statement by Mr Lungu does not amount to coup or treason. “President Hakainde Hichilema had a right to say what he said in the opposition and there was tolerant of such views. ECL has said the same things that the President said then and now some minister is terming that as amounting to a coup or treason? Come on guys.
Some things you ignore them. In fact, President Hichilema must stand up to defend the same expression of words. His explanation was very convincing in the opposition and he should not allow his subordinates or the police to deviate from such,” Mr Mwanza said.