By: Ollus Ndomu
A consortium of civil society organizations are alarmed with a statement allegedly issued by Inspector-General of Police, Kakoma Kanganja in which he threatened to arrest Resident Doctors who attended a Zoom meeting organized by Resident Doctors’ Association of Zambia (RDAZ) President, Dr. Brian Sampa.
In a Tuesday statement released by Chapter One Foundation Executive Director, Linda Kasonde on behalf ACTIONAID Zambia, Alliance for Community Action, Bloggers of Zambia Caritas Zambia, GEARS, TIZ Among others, CSOs have reminded the country’s police command that members of RDAZ have a constitutional right that grants them freedom of assembly.
CSOs speak amidst the ongoing go-slow of Resident Doctors who are demanding their payment from government including improved conditions of service.
Zambia’s junior doctors have been on go-slow for five days now with the ruling Patriotic Front-PF- top officials calling for their dismissal saying their action is politically motivated.
Speaking on the plight of doctors, CSOs have urged government not to intimidate citizens as the country goes to the polls on August 12.
CSOs have also challenged Police Inspector General to provide a specified legal basis within the Cyber Security Law which bars citizens to hold online meetings.
