MINISTER of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu says Police acted professionally in the case of former Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba, Rizwan Patel and Chris Zumani Zimba.
In a ministerial statement on the matter of urgent public importance raised by Katombora Member of Parliament Clement Andekeki following a statement issued by Law Association of Zambia alleging increased incidents of police brutality against the opposition, Mr Mwiimbu dismissed the assertions.
The Minister said the police officers acted professionally in all the three cases but urged those who have witnessed police brutality to report the matter to the Police Complaints Commission or take legal action.
He said under section 26 of the Criminal Procedure Code chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia, Police officers are empowered to make arrests without a warrant in specific situations such as when a person commits an offence in the presence of a police officer.
“In the cases of Mr Emmanuel Mwamba, Dr Christopher Zumani Zimba and Mr. Rizwan Patel, Iam proud to indicate that the Police Service acted professionally. Section 26 of the Criminal Procedure Code Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia, police officers are empowered to make arrests without a warrant in specific situations such as when a person commits an offence in the presence of a police officer or when the officer has reasonable ground to believe that an offence has been committed,” he said.
But on his Facebook page, Mr Mwamba said the Minister’s statement was not inspiring as he seemingly accepted the behavior of the police.
“Truly sad day to hear him speak on the floor of Parliament in the manner he did accepting wanton criminal behaviour by the Police.
In his view he thinks torture and police brutality done in the past is the only crime people should remember,” Mr Mwamba said.
Recently, the Law Association of Zambia president Lungisani Zulu said there is no law which gives the Zambia Police Service powers to brutalize citizens in the name of ‘minimum force’ during arrests.
Mr Zulu cited incidents involving Mr Mwamba, PF members Rizwan Patel as well Given Phiri, a co-accused person with former State House Special Assistant for Politics Dr. Christopher Zimba as some of the examples involving Police brurality.
He called out Inspector-General of Police Graphel Musamba who was reported to have warned opposition party members to tone down and cooperate with his officers or else the police will use minimum force.
“We take this opportunity to remind the Police Command that Article 15 of the Republican Constitution is very clear when it provides that no person shall be subjected to torture, or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other like treatment,” he said.
