Police summon PF official

In my view, one of the most astonishing issue is the constant involvement of the police in politics than in maintenance of law and order. It's commonplace to find the police brandishing their batons at a political party that commands a respectable following large enough to pose a threat to the ruling party. During the last 10 years or more, the common trend in Zambia has been that each and every time the PF issues statements opposing some unacceptable government agenda, they are swiftly condemned by the police and directed to appear at police command headquarters. Police directives may appear to be issued in collusion with the powers that be, but it is not clear to what exent this may be and is subject to conjecture.

I believe that the plan by the PF to stage a peaceful demonstration against ZESCO's 66% new tariff hike is not intended to cause public chaos but merely to register the party's opposition and discontent  about the new tariff. It's worthnoting that many organizations, among them the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions, and academia at the University of Zambia, have all roundly criticized the tariff hike as being myopic. However, it is very clear that the Police Service Command, whether acting on their own or otherwise, does not understand the value of freedom of expression and their shortcoming may just qualify them for training in political education. Neither does the police command appreciate the immediate to long-term implications of such a diabolical tariff on the struggling masses and the economy. Whether police action is orchestrated by the government or is just a manouver by the police commandto stamp their authority and thus to stifle and muzzle liberty is something that remains to be seen. However, Government has the responsibility to create a favourable climate to allow its citizenry, regardless of their political affiliations, to exercise their freedom without hinderance.  It goes without saying that police beharviour in Zambia creates an impression that government subscribes to police intimidation of political parties especially the most transparent and vocal Patriotic Front.