Zambia : Police Order Arrests As Government And Opposition Trade Blame Over Election Violence

Police order arrests as government and opposition trade blame over election violence

Inspector General Graphel Musamba has directed all commanding officers to arrest everyone involved in recent political violence in Shibuyunji, Livingstone and Luampa districts, warning that political affiliation will not shield offenders from prosecution.

The order comes six days before the country votes, with tensions rising over confrontations blamed variously on ruling party cadres and opposition supporters.

Musamba has also ordered a review of the police operation in Mongu and Kalabo, where tear gas was used to disperse a Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance rally, and dismissed as false circulating claims that a person died there.

“The law will be applied fairly, professionally and impartially, without regard to political affiliation,” Musamba said.

Government has gone further, alleging some violence was staged to discredit the ruling party. Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Dickson Matembo said intelligence points to planned incidents in Western, Southern and North-Western provinces, citing one video from Luampa showing an individual changing into ruling party regalia after causing a disturbance.

“Those being coerced to participate should stay away, because they will be on their own,” Matembo said.

Information Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana made a similar allegation, saying opposition members had worn ruling party regalia while attacking themselves to cast the government in a negative light.

Opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile rejects that framing. He said his convoy was attacked by armed cadres while travelling to Mongu, and that musician Clifford Dimba, known as General Kanene, was hacked in the head with a machete by attackers he believes were aligned with the ruling party.

“Every act of political violence, regardless of who the victim is, deserves a swift and impartial response,” Mundubile said, noting no arrests had followed the attack on Dimba.

Socialist Party president Fred M’membe echoed the concern, accusing the ruling party of failing to end caderism during its time in office.

President Hakainde Hichilema has responded publicly, saying he was deeply concerned by the reports.

“Violence, intimidation or lawlessness by any political party, candidate or supporter will not be tolerated,” the President said, adding that anyone disrupting the campaign would face the full consequences of the law.

State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said the President had been consistent in condemning violence, arguing the scale of this campaign’s unrest cannot be compared to what he described as widespread violence under the former Patriotic Front administration.

The Human Rights Commission has also raised concern, with chairperson Pamela Sambo citing an injured law-enforcement officer and the attack on Dimba, and calling for the arrest of all identifiable suspects regardless of political affiliation. She separately flagged harassment directed at female candidates as a violation of their right to participate in political life.

The Law Association of Zambia has urged the Electoral Commission to sanction anyone involved in political violence, warning that unchecked incidents threaten the credibility of the process.

Bishop Joshua Banda, presiding bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Zambia, has urged all parties to honour a peace pledge signed on behalf of the country’s three church mother bodies, warning that unchecked violence could destabilise the wider region.

Leadership Movement president Richard Silumbe has also called for restraint, cautioning the ruling party against allowing a return to the violence recorded under the previous administration.

With campaigning entering its final stretch, police say reviews of contested operations and investigations into recent incidents remain ongoing.

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