![[Zambia] Police arrest rioters following violent protests that the vote in the general election was rigged. [Date picture taken: 10/01/2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/20061022.jpg.webp?itok=43Ud3wf- "Rioters will have their day in court")
Police are ignoring appeals for the release of over 100 people facing charges of riotous behaviour in the wake of Zambia's bitterly contested fourth multiparty elections.
"All those we picked up in Lusaka [the capital] have been formally arrested and charged with riotous behaviour, and they have to appear in court to answer charges according to the law -there are no two ways about it," said police spokesman Bonny Kapeso.
Supporters of Michael Sata, leader of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, went on the rampage after it became clear on the second day of counting after the poll on 28 September that his bid for the presidency was lost, and President Levy Mwanawasa would secure a second and final five-year term of office.
Members of Sata's PF appealed for leniency for those arrested for looting and other acts of public disorder in the interests of national unity.
"President (Levy) Mwanawasa himself said he wanted all parties to reconcile and work together for development, but we see no reason why police should continue detaining these people when the situation in the country is back to normal," PF vice-president Sakwiba Sikota said.
"Why have a constant reminder of what happened during the just-ended election, which we all know that in fact we won? These prosecutions that the state wants to embark upon will just keep the wounds bleeding and alive - it's time for healing, not for deepening the wounds."
Sikota, who is also a lawyer, said the prosecution would drain the state's meagre resources, as "it is unlikely that the state will secure a single conviction for any one of these people."
nm/go/he
"All those we picked up in Lusaka [the capital] have been formally arrested and charged with riotous behaviour, and they have to appear in court to answer charges according to the law -there are no two ways about it," said police spokesman Bonny Kapeso.
Supporters of Michael Sata, leader of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, went on the rampage after it became clear on the second day of counting after the poll on 28 September that his bid for the presidency was lost, and President Levy Mwanawasa would secure a second and final five-year term of office.
Members of Sata's PF appealed for leniency for those arrested for looting and other acts of public disorder in the interests of national unity.
"President (Levy) Mwanawasa himself said he wanted all parties to reconcile and work together for development, but we see no reason why police should continue detaining these people when the situation in the country is back to normal," PF vice-president Sakwiba Sikota said.
"Why have a constant reminder of what happened during the just-ended election, which we all know that in fact we won? These prosecutions that the state wants to embark upon will just keep the wounds bleeding and alive - it's time for healing, not for deepening the wounds."
Sikota, who is also a lawyer, said the prosecution would drain the state's meagre resources, as "it is unlikely that the state will secure a single conviction for any one of these people."
nm/go/he
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article