Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has told Parliament yesterday that suspects in the alleged abduction of the two members of the Hatembo family in Kalomo district of Southern province were detained for over 48 hours by the Zambia Police.
Mr. Kampyongo explained to parliament that this was because the suspects were apprehended on different days following the significance of the offence, adding that some suspects went missing at the time of arrest.
He further explained to the house that the Zambia Police Service received a report of an alleged offense of abduction involving Pheluna and Milton Hatembo by a relative of Choma district.
“A relative of the victims reported the matter at Zambia Police Service headquarters in Lusaka. Considering the gravity of the offense, the Zambia police immediately instituted investigations and arrested the suspects on 23 March 2021,” he explained.
Mr. Kampyongo told parliament that the four accused suspects were formally apprehended by the police and charged with an offense of abduction, contrary to section 253 and 256 of the penal code Act cap 187 of the laws of Zambia.
He was responding to a question which was asked by Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu, who wanted to know why the Zambia police service wantonly detained Mr. Fines Malambo, Mr. Ackson Sejani, Mr. Javen Simooloka and Mr. Vincent Lilanda for over 30 days before taking them to court.
Mr. Kampyongo told parliament that the arrest of the suspects by the police was done within the confines of the laws in line with the constitutional Act number 87 of the Penal Code. The Act provides for the police to conduct investigations on any suspect.
“Section 56 states that a person who kidnaps or abducts with intent to cause that person to be secretly or wrongfully confined is guilty of a felony offense and imprisonment for seven years,” he said.
He further told parliament that on Thursday, April 22, 2021 the four accused persons were taken to court in Choma for plea and were released on bail.
The Minister told parliament that last year, one of the Hatembo family members complained to the police that a named politician fraudulently acquired their property on farm 1924 in Kalomo district.
Pheluna and Milton Hatembo disclosed that the family was allegedly battered by unknown people on 14th February 2021, a move that made the family to abandon their homes and seek refuge in a secure location as they fear their lives may be at risk.
The most ridiculous explanation of corrupt PF government behaviour on any judiciary misgivings ever heard in my life. Kampyongo really thinks Zambians will believe this story? Then he is even less suitable for the job he is in than I previously thought!
Waiting for unproven links and attacks on HH about this Hatembo abduction matter in 1.2.3……
And no mention of Nawakwi, the chief agitator of all these shenanigans. These f00lz are truly inept jokers 🙁
When will Kampyongo have ZP question Edith Nawakwi or have her appear before a parliamentary committee on this matter? Its either solid evidence or defamation but it can’t be both ways.
Katondo street money changer and swift fingers now minister, that’s pa Zed! There is also Lusambo who without authority shared a phone number with thugs who forced their way into a government office to harass the occupant!
Honorable you did not respond to the question that was raised. I wonder why the Speaker does not interject to such hollow and shallow responses. All the honorable did was essentially read out the provisions of the law pertaining to the issue of abductions, and they called it a day, received allowances thereafter, and life goes on. What are we doing honestly?!!
Unfortunately compensation for wrongful detention will not come from the pockets of the authority in their personal capacity; it will be taxpayers who will be footing this egregious incompetence.
The law is very clear. Suspects should be brought to Court within 48 hrs of arrest. These suspects were detained for over 30 days without taking them to Court. ZPS shouldn’t arrest in order to investigate. What ZPS did on Ackson Senjani and three others is illegal and unconstitutional . The suspects will successfully sue for this violation of Human Rights.
The law is very clear. Suspects should be brought to Court within 48 hrs of arrest. These suspects were detained for over 30 days without taking them to Court. ZPS shouldn’t arrest in order to investigate. What ZPS did on Ackson Senjani and three others is illegal and unconstitutional . The suspects will successfully sue for this violation of Human Rights.
My brother Kampyongo we get on the same bus when going home and I beg you to look at this case with truthfulness and integrity as such matters may soon haunt you my brother if they are not conducted properly. They seem to be political rather than a real case, from public view. That Nawakwi sister of mine has failed to be an opposition leader and she embarrass as she did on privatisation when she was not even Finance Minister when the Hotel Intercontinental Livingstone was concluded
This is the most daft explanation I have ever heard …I am surprised that Lazy Lungu being a lawyer would tolerate such an explanation; its not like they will be sentenced by the courts as a group.
These are truly wasted years under Lazy Lungu!!
This Stephen Kampyongo had more than 5 days to prepare for an answer and this is the best he could come up with….very shocking
Dictatorship, pure and simple.
Musevenization of Zambia.
Remember that all this confusion and drama is caused by that crooked trouble maker hh. Imagine if he became president, you would be dealing with drama after drama. Business men and leadership doesn’t seem to always go well. Look at trump.
Sorry to my fans and haters, I have been quiet as I am busy working hard to prepare for August elections.
Remember that all this confusi0n and drama is caused by that cr00ked trouble maker hh. lmagine if he became president, you would be dealing with drama after drama. Buslness men and leadershlp doesn’t seem to always go well. Look at tuurump .
Sorry to my fans and haters, I have been quiet as I am busy working hard to prepare for August elections.
They is no good readership in Zambia
If you know you can’t make a charge within the period required by the constitution then you should not go around arresting and detaining people while you are still investigating!!! That should be common sense!!! What a terrible explanation given by Kampyongo.
@KYLE, the speaker is PF in sheep clothing, that’s why he lets them off easy. In a proper democracy, ministers could not get away with half of what these guys do in parliament
BLAH BLAH BLAH TYPICAL pF BLUNDER
AND TO THINK FEW PEOPLE STILL SUPPORT THIS pf NONSENSE
MAKES ONE WANT TO CRY
But 30days to take them to court even if we
Are in Zambia bwana kampyongo .We have
To overhaul the system.
I don’t understand what the chap was saying.
Kampyongo should be arrested for abducting Mukuni’s wife.
The court said that their detention was illegal. So, why is the honourable minister not answering to that fact, or is he disagreeing with the third arm of his government?
A very stupid answer and surely the opposition MPs couldn’t interject that he was answering the question. No wonder this country has failed to develop
Which relative that reported the alleged abduction to the police? I bet you its Edith Nawakwi who reported the matter .
She clearly wants to force herself to be a relative of the Hatembo family.
The Hatembos have rejected Nawakwi , the same way HH rejected her when she wanted to force herself on him.
The classical case of a Jilted lover.
This whole thing is stupid. Yeah I said it, It’s stupid.
Why is he trying to justify the continued detention based on a law that speaks about someone convicted by a court as opposed to a suspect?
Police do not have the power to detain anyone for longer that 48hrs, that law further needs to be reduced to 24hrs.
This law exists to ensure that police curry out their jobs diligently, do their investigations fully and only make an arrest when they have solid evidence. Criminal cases in well functioning democracies end in 96 percent of convictions and rarely enter a nolle. How do you arrest for abduction without the victims’ evidence?
there goes more money out of my and peoples pockets to compensate these illegally detained people.
Rowdy – Imagine after 6 months its a nolle…. after they have inconvenienced you and your family.
Hw long can we tolerate a situation where a non-member of the National Assembly of Zambia can seek clarification on the Speaker’s ruling on a matter dealt with on the floor of Parliament affecting a member of that body? If the Speaker censures an MP, do I hv the right as a non-member to go to court and apply that the court should impose a more serious punishment on the MP?
Individual rights cannot be denied because you are suspected to commit a crime as a group. An individual cannot suffer because of a group of suspects… that is unconstitutional. Dude doesn’t even make any sense.