JCTR wants Public Order Act amended

THE Public Order Act (POA) in its current state impinges on freedom of expression and assembly, according to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR). JCTR programme manager Lloyd Bwalya argued that in its current state, the POA was in conflict with the constitution and international instruments to which the country is signatory to. Speaking during a stakeholders meeting in Ndola, Mr. Bwalya said there was need to amend part of the act to align it to the principles of constitutionalism and democracy. He said JCTR strongly believed that the POA was an impediment to the enjoyment of political rights such as freedom of assembly, speech and association. He added that the act was a serious threat to democracy not only because of the content but also the manner in which it was applied. “According to the research we have conducted, we have established that it is a necessary law but should be revisited on how best it can be used to give room for freedom of expression as opposed to oppressing others. “We would like to see a situation that the enforcers of the law give alternative dates or compensation if it arises that following granting of permission, organisers of the event are asked not to go ahead at the last minute. Such incidences have been experienced that people sometimes are just told you cannot go ahead with plans without explanation or reasons or after approval of the notification on actual date after the event has been planned, organizers are told at last minute that the permit has been withdrawn. The act is good but it’s just a section which is giving the entire law a bad name. All we are advocating for is reformation of the act, put in mechanism or it be subject to fast track court where an appeal can be heard if an application is dissatisfied with reasons given by the enforcers. “I want to mention that we have noted that some of the salient provisions features are in section 5 of the act,” he said. Meanwhile, Mr. has Bwalya bemoaned high levels of ignorance on the act despite the fact that it affects their daily lives. He stated that the act had brought about confusion in sections of society and that it had mostly been associated with politics. He emphasized the need for Zambians to dissociate the act from politics and attempt to formalize it from a sober mind. He has urged the communities to engage their parliamentarian offices for insight into the act and make submissions in areas that they felt must be amended.