Patriots for Economic Progress (PEP) has announced plans to protest against the alleged harassment of the Financial Intelligence Center (FIC) officials by some Patriotic Front (PF) members.
The PF members are alleged to have, verbally, intimidated some FIC officials following the center’s publication of an intelligence report citing grave financial irregularities by some outspoken Cabinet ministers.
The PEP president, Sean Tembo, charged that the harassment and intimidation of the officials was indicative of the shame that the PF was facing after its top elements were named in the highly comprehensive report.
“We want to send a clear and an equivocal message to the PF and its government that we shall not allow a situation where by honest and upright officers of FIC are intimidated and harassed by criminal elements that are affiliated to the ruling party.
“To this end, we have issued a notice to the Zambia Police service regarding our protest, in compliance with Section 5 Subsection 4 of the Public Order Act,” disclosed Mr. Tembo.
Mr. Tembo has since called on well-meaning Zambians to join the protest, which is scheduled for Wednesday 27 June, 2018.
The protest is scheduled to take place from Parliament building and proceed through Great East Road, all the way to the Ministry of Justice Headquarters.
He appealed to President Edgar Lungu not to interfere with the peaceful protest, saying doing otherwise would amount to impunity and violation of freedoms and liberties enshrined in the Republican Constitution.
Meanwhile, People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) President, Andyford Banda, described Zambia as a haven for financial mismanagement, citing the increased reports of top government officials plundering national resources with impunity.
Mr. Banda, also, expressed disappointment with the Zambia Police for their lack of professionalism.
He said the Police Service has lamentably failed to protect the rights of innocent, well-meaning Zambians.
“Citizens are not allowed to protest against financial injustices with or without permits. What country are we living in? Have we lost the principles of who owns the country? This country is not owned by those in power but by the citizens of Zambia,” he said.
He reminded those in power to watch their backs as time will come when they will have to leave public office to answer to every evil they would have committed.