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Zambia bans political rallies
15/12/2006 18:06 - (SA)
Lusaka - Zambia banned political rallies
and went on alert on Friday to deal with "threats" by opposition
leader Michael Sata, the government's latest effort to gag the
fiery populist who narrowly lost this year's presidential polls.
Deputy home affairs minister Chrispine Musosha told a news
conference that Sata - who has accused President Levy Mwanawasa
of rigging his re-election in September - had been "sabotaging"
Zambia's security through alarming statements at his rallies.
"The police permits (for political rallies) are not going to
be issued until further notice. "We can no longer allow people to
disturb the peace of the country," Musosha said.
Sata's Patriotic Front (PF) said it would take the political
ban to court.
"It's only in a state of emergency when the law allows the
president to ban political activity," said PF national secretary
Guy Scott, a close Sata ally. "We want our rights to be
respected, and some deputy minister cannot ban our meetings."
Sata was briefly detained early this month for an alleged
violation of electoral rules, and Mwanawasa said last week that
he was on the verge of treason.
- Reuters
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