Simbyakula Skirts over Police Presence at Chief Chitimukulu Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula doggedly skirted the subject of the continued deployment of over 20 police officers at the Chitimukulu’s Palace in Northern Province following a long standing feud between the PF government and Chitimukulu designate Henry Kanyanta Sosala. The Bemba Royal Establishment elected Sosala to ascend to the throne of Chitimukulu but President Michael Sata has refused to acknowledge the rightful heir to the throne choosing to block his ascension by permanently deploying a battalion of armed police officers. Parliamentarians took up the matter with Simbyakula during the question and oral answer session in parliament but the Minister stayed clear of the touchy subject. Below are excerpts from the debate: Question: Misheck Mutelo (Lukulu MP) The question is when you asked the police officers and if you and if you didn’t do why and when you asked what was the assessment given to you. What did they assess that necessitated the deployment of officers there? Answer: Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula: Mr Speaker I do not micro manage the police so it will be a bit difficult for me request them to furnish me with those details. Question: Ronnie Shikapwasha (Keembe MP): Mr Speaker this House wants to know how this government is spending our money. Mr Minister can you share with this House the security assessment that was made by the police whether we can have it now or it can be furnished later? Mr Speaker security information that is gathered by the police may at certain times be shared with the Minister or sometimes they may not. They make assessments in their professional capacity. Our duty is to provide policy guidance. Jonas Shakafuswa (Katuba MP): is the honorable in order to know that he does not know what happens in his department? Is he in order not to know why the Chitimukulu, our beloved Chitimukulu’s palace was surrounded? Situmbeko Musokotwane (Liuwa MP) : I indicated in this House before that there are security concerns in Liuwa because of bandits who come from Angola and run back, in view of the fact that a member of parliament in that party resigned on account that there were genuine security concerns there is the Minister going to withdraw the police officers surrounding the Chitimukulu’s palace and spend the resources on the genuine security concerns in Liuwa? Response: Ngosa Simbyakula: After assessment of the situation prudently, the police officers will advice when it will be appropriate to withdraw police presence in the area. Question: Request Muntanga (Kalomo MP): Honourable Speaker the police service is short by 26, 000 police to police the Zambians so therefore they come here to ask for funds to employ more police. would the minister justify for his sending over 200 police at at one place and even install 20 at a police post when we are short by 26, 000 police in the country? Response: Simbyakula; the current police force is 17, 000 strong this government found it at 13, 000 we want to increase it to 27, 000 so we are short of 10, 000 and as I said earlier in my remarks I said that the police made an assessment in that area and saw the need to enhance the numbers in that area. At some point when they make an assessment we shall reduce the number accordingly. Question: Moono Lubezhi (Namwala MP); Mr Speaker this is a government that withdrew the recognition of Chief Mwamba and this is the government that has gone ahead and put police officers at Chitimukulu’s palace. The question is what is it that you are not comfortable with the Bemba Royal Establishment? Response: Simbyakulau: Mr Speaker as I indicated earlier, the question of installation of a traditional leader is not the mandate of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the mandate of the Ministry of Home Affairs is to maintain law and order. Question: Levy Ngoma (Sinda MP) : Sir colossal sums of money are being misused over this venture and the minister doesn’t know the real reason why the police officers are there what comfort do you have as the Minister of Home Affairs that resources are not being abused by the Zambia police? Response: Simbyakula; I have indicated to this House that police make an assessment in any given house that the police make an assessment and they share that assessment with the Ministry and sometimes they may not do so. Question: Geoeffrey Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda MP): Mr Speaker the Honourable Minister is telling us that it is better to error on the side of caution than to be sorry later. Is he telling the nation that (Point of ORDER by Mazabuka MP) Question: Garry Nkombo (Mazabuka MP): Sir once beaten twice shy we are aware in this country that when there were disturbances in Mongu and to be specific Limulunga the Minstry of Home Affairs deployed police officers in that constituency for a period longer than necessary. The result of that deployment saw school children falling pregnant from these misplaced human resources because of lack of recreation. Is the Minister therefore in order to continue skirting around a matter so important and not just tell us when they will remove these policemen so that our children do not fall pregnant in Malole? Speaker; The difficult I have with that point of order is that it qualifies as a follow up question which somebody else should have asked. Question: Lungwangwa continues; it is better for police to error on the side of caution that not to be sorry later, is he saying that our police service operates on the basis of hypothetical conjectures and verified facts? Is that the way the police operate? Simbyakula: The answer is no Mr Speaker. Question: Ian Mbewe (Chadiza MP): Mr Speaker the government is always claiming that they don’t interfere in the installation of chiefs, this is the PF government sir, may I find out from the Minister whether the putting of the policemen around the palace is not one of the interference of the Human Rights of the Bemba people? Are they not interfering in the Human Rights? Answer: Simbyakula: Mr Speaker I have repeatedly stated that the question of installation of a traditional leader is not the mandate of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The mandate of the Ministry of Home Affairs is to maintain law and order. zambiareports/2014/07/16/simbyakula-skirts-police-presence-chief-chitimukulu/
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 19:43:41 +0000
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