COPS Used Excessive Force In Barotseland Fracas

PETITIONERS to the Commission of Inquiry into the January 14, 2011 Mongu riots yesterday gave graphic details of how officers from the Zambia Police Service allegedly used excessive force, which led to the deaths and injuries of a number of people.
The petitioners also stated that the presence of a big paramilitary force and ordinary police officers caused the violence that took place on that day.
Father Gregory Muleya, who submitted on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Mongu, said the presence of heavily armed police and paramilitary officers created a lot of anxiety and uncertainty, especially among the youth.
He said the presence of the officers was “irritating” and made the environment volatile.
“The presence of these security officers was seen as a preparation for violent policing, and not crowd control,” Fr Muleya said.
He said as the Catholic Church feels that unless the concerns raised by various interest groups are addressed, discontent among the people will continue.
Eugene Kapatiso, 28, of Imwiko area in Mongu, told of how he was arrested by police when he inquired about his property.
Mr Kapatiso, who was detained from January 14, 2011 to May 1, 2011, told the commission chaired by lawyer Rodger Chongwe police went to his house on the fateful day and confiscated his property, including US$2,000 and K3.5 million which was in the house at the time.
He said he had raised the money from treating his clients at his home, where he practises traditional medicine.
Mr Kapatiso said a police officer he named as Akushanga brutalised him, while a female officer he identified only as Audrey undressed him and pulled his manhood while lashing at it, causing his private parts to swell.
He said two other officers, a Mr Matafwali and a Mr Nyirenda, also participated in torturing him and arrested him.
“Mr Chairperson, I also suffered as a result of the food which I ate when I was transferred to Mumbwa, and my elder brother had to assist me to get medical treatment at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka,” Mr Kapatiso said.
Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) president Charles Milupi, 57, said according to his facts, Kalyangu Kang’ombe, the man who was shot at Mongu BP filling station, was on his way to the police station to find out why his landlord , Mutakela Mutakela, had been picked by police when he met his fate.
An emotional Mr Milupi told a packed venue that Mr Kang’ombe was trying to move a burning tyre when police shot him under his nose.
“This man was not even a Lozi, he was Mbunda. Police maintained that he was trying to set the filling station ablaze and had to be stopped. This is sad because police were using guns bought from taxpayers’ money to eliminate innocent people,” Mr Milupi said.
He said a boy named Limpo was shot while he was herding cattle and that a 12-year-old boy named Chilemu was shot by police in the chest while in his grandmother’s house in Kapulanga area.
Mr Milupi wondered why those who were arrested in Mongu were taken to Mumbwa, away from their relatives and witnesses who could not afford to see them and testify in their favour.
The commission heard that a man only identified as Mukumbuta allegedly committed suicide when he was informed by his relatives that he was being sought by police in connection with the riots.
Another petitioner, Mubita Silumesi, 57, also of Imwiko area in Mongu, submitted that the security officers, most of who came from outside Mongu, were overzealous and used excessive force on people whose intention was to hold a peaceful assembly to discuss matters relating to their well-being.
Mr Silumesi said police denied to issue a permit to the Linyungandambo, Movement for the Restoration of Barotseland (MOREBA) ,Barotse Patriotic Front (BPF) and Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM) for them to exercise their freedom of assembly.
“Mkhondo Lungu, who was minister of Home Affairs at the time, and Solomon Jere, who led the police operation, must answer for their deeds. Everyone who was arrested and those that lost property must be compensated. Families of the people that lost their lives must also be compensated,” Mr Silumesi said.
He said Balozi leaders were “hoodwinked” into signing the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 and that it was the treachery of some politicians that has caused some of the problems being faced today.
“Mr Chairman, the die is cast. We are saying Zambia must go. Even if they promise us development, we shall not listen because we are tired because even our King has been reduced to a pauper,” Mr Silumesi said.
Sitting resumed this morning.

Posted by Editor on October 29, 2011. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry