PF applies for leave to commence judicial review of alleged abuse of power by Zambia Police Service

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has applied for leave to commence Judicial Review proceedings against the State over the decision by the Police to indefinitely cancel their planned meeting in Eastern Province.

PF claims that the Zambia Police Service did indefinitely cancel its meeting scheduled for January 14,2023 in Chipata, Eastern Province,on pretext of unruly and violent behavior portrayed by the members.

According to an application for leave to apply for Judicial Review filed in the Lusaka High Court by Makebi Zulu Advocates, PF deputy secretary general Nickson Chilangwa argues that the purported decision to cancel the meeting where the party was to review its constitution is illegal.

“That the Zambia Police Service acted in excess of their jurisdiction by making the purported decision to cancel our meetings in the Eastern Province as such,the decision is illegal and void ab initio,” he contends.

Chilangwa explained that on January 10, this year,PF was scheduled to hold a meeting at Andrich lodge in Chipata, Eastern Province and did notify the Police.

He however said that on January 9,2023,PF received information from Chipata Police Station officer-in-charge, J.Ngoma, that January 10 was not a suitable date, instead the meeting should be moved to January 14,2023.

He states that he wrote back to Zambia Police Service informing them of the party’s decision to proceed meeting on January 10,2023 and the police had no jurisdiction to dictate when the party should host its meeting.

Chilangwa states that the meeting was disrupted by the police who said it was illegal as the approved date was January 14.

He said the party had to reschedule to January 14 as told by Police.

Chilangwa explained that the party was however shockingly informed by J.Ngoma that the meeting set for January 14 had not been approved by the police and as such ,it was cancelled indefinitely due to what he termed as unruly and violent behavior exhibited by some party members on January 10,2023.

He further stated that the Eastern Province commanding officer Lucky Munkondya was quoted in the News Diggers edition of January 13,2023 that he would disrupt any meeting that would be held by PF in the area.

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