Fred M’membe, Socialist Party leader, hints at repealing public order act, if in power

Socialist Party president, Fred M’membe, has promised to embark on the repealing process of the Public Order Act once his party forms government.

M’membe made the promise in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He noted that the Public Order Act has been there not for keeping public order but curtailing meaningful political activities that challenge the hold on power.

“There are many laws which help a nation to deal with those who act outside our laws and in the case of Zambia, the penal code has many laws to stop any one from causing mayhem for any reason,” M’membe said.

He said in Zambia the Public Order Act has not been used to keep public order but often the police has charged people with “conduct likely to cause the breach of peace” which is not under the Public Order Act.

“Repealing this Act will set this country on the right path towards meaningful participation of all players in a democratic dispensation and good governance,” M’membe said.

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