Police IG orders probe into Mongu teargas incident

217 Views Inspector General of the Zambia Police Service Graphel Musamba has directed the immediate arrest of everyone involved in recent political violence, warning that no politician or cadre will sidestep prosecution just because they belong to a certain political party. Musamba said the police had noted with concern the recent violence recorded in Shibuyunji, […]

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Inspector General of the Zambia Police Service Graphel Musamba has directed the immediate arrest of everyone involved in recent political violence, warning that no politician or cadre will sidestep prosecution just because they belong to a certain political party.

Musamba said the police had noted with concern the recent violence recorded in Shibuyunji, Livingstone and Luampa districts, stating that the incidents are unacceptable in a democratic country.

He has ordered all commanding officers in the affected areas to ensure that everyone behind the attacks is apprehended and taken to court without delay.

ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE PRESS STATEMENT

POLICE CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE, ORDER ARREST OF PERPETRATORS, AND COMMENCE REVIEW OF MONGU PUBLIC ORDER OPERATION

AUGUST 6, 2026 – THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE HAS NOTED WITH DEEP CONCERN THE RECENT INCIDENTS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE RECORDED IN SHIBUYUNJI DISTRICT, LIVINGSTONE DISTRICT, AND LUAMPA DISTRICT. SUCH ACTS OF VIOLENCE HAVE NO PLACE IN ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE STRONGLY CONDEMNS THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND REAFFIRMS ITS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTION.

IN THIS REGARD, THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE FULLY ASSOCIATES ITSELF WITH THE STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCE, MR. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, WHO STATED THAT:

“VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION OR LAWLESSNESS BY ANY POLITICAL PARTY, CANDIDATE OR SUPPORTER WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.”

THE SERVICE FULLY SUPPORTS THIS POSITION AND WISHES TO ASSURE ALL CITIZENS THAT THE LAW WILL BE APPLIED FAIRLY, PROFESSIONALLY AND IMPARTIALLY, WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE DIRECTED ALL COMMANDING OFFICERS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PERSON INVOLVED IN THESE INCIDENTS IS APPREHENDED AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURTS WITHOUT DELAY. NO INDIVIDUAL SHOULD IMAGINE THAT POLITICAL AFFILIATION PROVIDES IMMUNITY FROM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. ANYONE FOUND WANTING WILL FACE THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW.

FURTHER, I HAVE DIRECTED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW BE CONDUCTED INTO THE POLICE CROWD CONTROL AND PUBLIC ORDER MANAGEMENT OPERATION UNDERTAKEN YESTERDAY IN MONGU AND KALABO DISTRICTS DURING THE TONSE-PAMODZI ALLIANCE CAMPAIGN RALLY, WHERE TEAR SMOKE WAS DISCHARGED.

THE REVIEW WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE DISORDERLY CONDUCT EXHIBITED BY SOME POLITICAL SUPPORTERS TOWARDS POLICE OFFICERS DURING THE OPERATION.

THE PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW IS TO ESTABLISH THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INCIDENT AND DETERMINE WHETHER THE OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING PUBLIC ORDER MANAGEMENT AND THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS EXPECTED OF THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE. THE FINDINGS OF THE REVIEW WILL INFORM ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION THAT MAY BE NECESSARY.

THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE ALSO WISHES TO CATEGORICALLY CLARIFY THAT REPORTS CIRCULATING ON VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ALLEGING THAT A PERSON DIED DURING THE MONGU INCIDENT ARE FALSE. NO DEATH WAS RECORDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPERATION.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE THEREFORE URGED TO DISREGARD SUCH MISINFORMATION AND RELY ONLY ON VERIFIED INFORMATION ISSUED THROUGH OFFICIAL ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS.

AS THE COUNTRY APPROACHES THE GENERAL ELECTIONS, THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE REMINDS ALL POLITICAL PARTIES, CANDIDATES, SUPPORTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT PEACE AND SECURITY ARE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.

THE SERVICE REMAINS STEADFAST IN ITS CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A SAFE, SECURE AND CONDUCIVE ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ALL POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES CAN FREELY CONDUCT LAWFUL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES.

THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO DISCHARGE ITS DUTIES PROFESSIONALLY, IMPARTIALLY AND FIRMLY, WHILE TAKING DECISIVE ACTION AGAINST ANY PERSON WHO ENGAGES IN VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION OR ANY OTHER CRIMINAL CONDUCT THAT THREATENS PEACE, PUBLIC ORDER AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE THEREFORE URGED TO REJECT VIOLENCE, EXERCISE RESTRAINT AND UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW AS ZAMBIA PREPARES TO HOLD PEACEFUL, FREE AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS.

Signed

GRAPHEL C. MUSAMBA

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE