Police will investigate threats on the second Republican president Dr Frederick Chiluba’s life to its logical conclusion and ensure that culprits behind such acts are brought to book, Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani has said.
Mr Mangani said the Government condemned the threats and investigative wings will ensure that the matter is brought to a logical conclusion.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mangani wondered how suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres could attempt to petrol bomb the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) guesthouse in which the former head of State was lodging in Ndola.
He said Dr Chiluba, like any other citizen, was entitled to his freedom of association and assembly and should not be denied his rights to freedom of expression.
“In any case, the opposition have been saying that Dr Chiluba was a finished man but why are they worried about his freedom of association? That is why as Government we shall have to investigate the matter to its logical conclusion,” Mr Mangani added.
And the National Youth League (NYL) said Police should quicken investigations and arrest the suspected PF cadres that were allegedly involved in the petrol bombing of the guesthouse.
In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, NYL national organiser Sylvester Kaunda said police should also take stern action against the leaders of such cadres.
“We cannot allow such a situation by a party whose hidden motives are based on principles of violence. Zambia is a safe haven of peace where people including the dead enjoy peace at the most.
“We call upon all non-governmental organisations, the Church to desist from double standards and condemn this kind of violence,” Mr Kaunda said.
The NYL also called on the Registrar of Societies to thoroughly investigate the PF as it posed as a danger to the country’s security. Mr Kaunda said the PF president Michael Sata has not condemned the attacks on Dr Chiluba.
“We believe that a party that attacks former heads of State, a Republican president has a potential to become a militia group,” Mr Kaunda said.
He said in this era of democracy, dialogue and not physical fights should spearhead politics.
And the Leadership in Development said attempts to petrol bomb the guesthouse should be condemned strongly by all well meaning Zambians.
In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, Leadership in Development executive director Moses Kalonde said that Dr Chiluba was president for 10 years and therefore should be accorded the due respect that he deserves.
Mr Kalonde said the country was setting a bad precedence by not respecting the former head of State.
He said the behaviour by suspected PF youths to attack Dr Chiluba was uncalled for and was a recipe for anarchy and violence.
If Dr Chiluba was not an issue in the country’s politics, the suspected cadres would not have been threatening violence on the former head of State that has security for 24 hours.
Centre for Policy Dialogue director Neo Simutanyi condemned the threats on Dr Chiluba, which he described as a primitive and cowardly act.
Dr Simutanyi said yesterday that physical molestation was a cowardly way of dealing with issues.
He said whoever was behind the threats on Dr Chiluba’s life should be condemned in the strongest terms possible.
Constituency Concerned Citizens Forum (CCF) chairperson Wilbroad Mutoloka also condemned those who were behind the attempts to petrol bomb Dr Chiluba.
He said Dr Chiluba was a free citizen whose freedom of movement was guaranteed and that he was free to campaign for whoever he wished, and that those who were not happy should not attack him but allow the electorate to decide the best candidate in the 2011 elections.
Recently some unknown people allegedly threw a petrol bomb at the BoZ guesthouse where Dr Chiluba was residing during his recent private visit of the Copperbelt.
[Times of Zambia]
Well too bad that the old man has his life under threat hope the insuanations are true.
I mean hope the insuanations are false muletwelelako we well thinking in a mother tongue.Ati kaishile nobwato akasungu according to great kalu.
Mr Mangani, what about the MMD youths who want to rape Nawakwi. are they trying to do the right thing. Please bose use your brains…by 2011 you will be an ordinary civilian and the police wont listen to you.
What about the MMD youths who are threatening to rape Nawakwi…? you have come out strongly on this because it is one of you… Shame. Chiluba is a “thief” (I Hope LT wont take offence bcoz it has been proved in the London high court) he has a case to answer. This is a fact. But even thieves have rights, but the rights of Nawakwi supercides the rights of the thief, okay Mangani! I just wish the state can treat every person equally in Zambia.
LT even if mulekanya uku ponta because ba MMD bamibika pa pressure buti ifipuba fi GRZ are becoming unbearable and annoying by the minute.
Police will investigate threats on the second Republican president Dr Frederick Chiluba’s life to its logical conclusion and ensure that culprits behind such acts are brought to book, Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani has said.
Now if the police are still investigating this case why other pipo already concluded that it was PF cadres and its Readership is condemed?
Pliz we know epo mulila but try to be pentient. Mpombo wibilima ababilima tabafika.
Chiluba is his own worst enemy. He is a very arrogant and proud man, instead of maintaining a low profile he annoys the majority of Zambians by everything that comes out of his dirty little mouth. He is such a liar, last week he lied that he was on the Copperbelt to attend funerals when in fact he was there to campaign for his friend. He owes Zambians an apology. Mangani should advise him to keep quiet.
This group that did this is likened to Al-qaelda and we shall not tolerate that
I salute Ndola boys for actions taken its just the beginning. Next time do not miss him. Get him out of our lives. Good work.
Magani don’t ignore threat to Nakwaki!! Why protecting the thief? 😮
With due respect to the MMD regime,Kindly let Sata alone and deal with the thief(chiluba) the threats are just by the way to cover him ,Let IT not him(CHILUBA) SHUT HIS CLEAN LOOKING DIRTY MOUTH OF HIS. SATA AND H.H NEXT GOVERNMENT. WANT OR NOT.BY THEN MMD WILL BE RECEIVING TREATMENT OF ARV DOSAGE.
Magani,you know your name means arrest and even the police are not happy the way you treat them.The moment you leave office,you will be their client,they wont get orders from you.SO PREPARE FOR CHOSA NSAPATO. :d/
May his soul rest in peace.