By Fred M’membe
It is a well-known fact that throughout history, those who administer or control the criminal justice system hold the power with the potential for abuse and tyranny.
The statutory powers to arrest and prosecute those who commit crimes should be reasonably exercised and in good faith. By allowing people to be unjustifiably arrested, detained and prosecuted, those in power are sending a dangerous signal that the criminal justice system can used to persecute and fix opponents of the regime. I think we are quickly drifting back to the dark days of the PF Friday afternoon arrests and detentions to fix political opponents.
The way Davies Chama was arrested and detained for days raised serious concerns and we expressed them. He was arrested and detained for attempted murder but ended up with a charge of assault. We witnessed similar handling of Stephen Kampyongo. And now there’s the case of Raphael Nakacinda.
Can’t these arrests be done in a better and more humane way?
Power must be caged by the system. There’s a need to administer justice impartiality. Impartial law enforcement should be guaranteed by institutions. We should apply institutions to every aspect of law enforcement as a wall wired with high-tension electricity line.
The only antidote to the culture of venality is the readiness of our criminal justice system to apply the laws fairly and equally.
In Freedom under the Law, Lord Denning wisely remarked, “All power corrupts. Total power corrupts absolutely. And the trouble about it is that an official who is the possessor of power often does not realise when he is abusing it. Its influence is so insidious that he may believe that he is acting for the public good when, in truth, all he is doing is to assert his own brief authority. The Jack-in-office never realises that he is being a little tyrant.”
We should at all times uphold the rule of law, integrity of the criminal justice system, and the right to a fair trial.
And yet no disclosure that at some point this man M’membe emphatically supported the brutal PF rule.
The court will be told, Davies Chama allegedly shot somebody, In Shiwanga’andu a helicopter was almost brought down by thugs in whose command we all know where under in Shiwang’andu, the witnesses are very alive, We all know that HH did not meet not even a single judge nor issue any instruction to any judge on anything and a PF loose canon who has a history of disability in which ever organization he has been just decides to tell blatant lies, and Fred Mmembe’s expectation is for Police to watch and fold their arms, we cant let this country go back to lawlessness
#1 Mmembe supported Mr Sata. He didn’t support Mr Lungu hence the fall out and closure of the Post. Truth cannot be Truth if you deliberately leave out even a single detail
Agree Mr Fred Mmembe. But still waiting for an apology for your part that helped usher in this m0nster called ‘PF’ onto the Zambian people.
We need to campaign hard to get rid of this “defamation of the President” from modern day Zambia. It simply translates “you can’t piss me off because I’m the President”. Being the President is not the same as being some stoneage period village chief.
Jeez Zambian presidents have thinner skin than even the Pharaohs. With so much overwhelming mandate why is HH and his UPND govt so insecure about the likes of this Nakachinda guy?
The original version of that ‘power corrupts’ is actually attributed to The Lord Acton (John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton):
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority, still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.”
Of late I have observed BIG FRED has toned down and his views are very balanced. Fred was harassed by the former regime to the extent of stripping him of his assets using crooked individuals. Despite all that bad treatment he has remained level head and been offering constructive criticism to the UPND without injuring the persons of others. As for the recent arrests of our colleagues in the former ruling PF leadership, I have little if not any pity because they behaved above board. If the police has been using brutal tactics to arrest them then let the courts sort out the shortcomings in the charges. This should serve as a lesson that no individual or organization holds power for forever and should exercise caution when using such powers. Its unfortunate situation seeing a former Home…
You Fred Mmembe why do you forget so quickly? President HH was incarcerated for 127 days for foolish treason charges and only to end up being freed. Davies Chama is detained for a few days for a good reason of shooting and you are complaining? Wait, this is just the beginning. PF criminals are yet to pay for their numerous crimes against humanity. That’s why people are told to practise decent politics. Those who practised decent politics in PF will be free. People like Harry Kalaba who practise decent politics are free citizens
Mmembe knows very well the extent of the lawlessness under PF, even himself was caught up and his business arbitrary closed. In both his Post and Mast newspapers, Mmembe extensively covered and condemned Davies Chama’s shooting of Mushaukwa in Mulobezi, he condemned the trying to bring down of the helicopter carrying UPND officials in Shiwang’andu and even called for arrests of the PF thugs which did not happen. On Nakachinda, I am sure his expectations is for the law enforcement agencies under UPND is to play a blind eye. the Police under UPND being a very responsible arm have taken the case to court, that is the civilized way of doing things
Mmembe is playing politics as usual
Mmembe your brother in-law is worse than the previous regimes wait and see.
The Zambia Police has continued to abuse their powers now with renewed vigor. This is obviously at the behest of 3 persons that collectively superintend ZP. These have offices at ZP HQ, Ministry of Home Affairs & Plot 1. However, as much as this development has taken us backwards, we have collectively stood against any form of tyranny. We shall overcome this setback. I just feel sorry for those that think they will easily get away with their impunity.
Mzambia wa Zamani December 17, 2021 At 6:30 am
And yet no disclosure that at some point this man M’membe emphatically supported the brutal PF rule.
SO WHAT IF HE SUPPORTED PF? YOU THINK ALL THE PEOPLE SHLD BELONG TO ONE POLITICAL PARTY? WHEN UPND WAS IN OPPOSITION, DID YOU EXPECT EVERYONE TO BELONG TO PF? SOME REASONING………………………….
As much as I hate PF with a passion for all the abuse Zambians suffered under them, it is wrong to treat Chama, Kampyongo and Nakachina the way they have been treated, especially after Bally sang so much about the rule of law.
LESSONS FROM UK (I).
Zambians can ignore Fred Mmembe’s voice at their own peril. We can learn from UK, which is endowed by FOUR ethnic groups: the English, Irish, Scottish & Welsh. UK’s political stability has been enhanced by allowing a member of each ethnic group to serve as Prime Minister. UK’s Prime Ministerial positions have been rotating between the English and Scottish. However, the Welsh rightly feel they are part of Britain because their own kind, David Lloyd George as Liberal Party leader, served as Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922. Earlier, Benjamin Disraeli of Jewish birth served as Prime Minister from 1874 to 1880. These historical events have nurtured social and political stability that prevails in UK up to date.
LESSONS FROM UK (II).
Southern Africa has witnessed Malawi, South Africa and Zambia evolving true democracy where different political parties have reigned in Govts. In Zambia, the advent of a Tonga to serve as State President is a vital historical event that will foster social & political stability in this country. Since HH’s State Presidency was made possible by voters from outside Southern Province, he must not abuse peoples’ trust. UPND should not take the Aug. 2021 victory as a chance to torture political opponents, but rather Tongas must prove their worth by demonstrating civility and focus on developing Zambia.
It is funny that everything that the police do in this country every Jim and Jack wants to believe it is coming from the head of state or the ruling party. So this man is accepting that these are better day compared to the PF days and only become bad of wrongdoers are arrested. Him being a lawyer must understand that suspected criminals can be arrested for a certain crime and lawyers like convince the arresting officers to charge for a lesser crime depending on the circumstances. Let the police do their job professionally please!
Every bad thing is rising from the upnd government, namely arrests removal of subsidies and vengeance selective arrests from one region and no problems with the other region.
These people have their subsidies in place in the form of allowances every month, however it is only the common Zambian who has lost their subsidies.
These politicians are cruel to the general zambian.
Don`t revenge.Don`t revenge. HH is aiming at persecuting all PF including ECL which will back fire in near future. Zambians need to eat and have better life no politicking all the time. Bally work on the economy, employment, free education as per your per your promises. Zambians have waken up.Avoid vengence
Those arrests will automatically stop when all the corrupt thieving PF people will all be behind bars. And that of course includes Edgar China Lungu, the worst president the country has ever had!
Quickly drifting back? We already have drifted back. If you are a clever opposition this is the time to capitalise and leverage on UPND’s failures
I don’t seem to understand upnd supporters. When a shortcoming is pointed out or genuine criticism is levelled at upnd, they quickly counter by saying PF also did this or that. The correct thing to do is simply correct the wrong since they are the party in power.
HH promised to do things differently, including upholding the rule of law. Defending wrong things is what got PF kicked out of power.
If we say PF was a wrongdoer, then why do you want to benchmark yourselves against them by constantly referring to what they”also” did?
Don’t be defensive. Just correct things or mistakes pointed out. As the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire.
Don’t talk about pf. The only reason you are complaining now is because life was better under pf
Indeed Issacher a court wont acquit you because you were not the first to steal, or murder.