Zambia’s civil society criticizes alleged ban on opposition rallies

Civil society organizations in Zambia have expressed concern over what they say is the unconstitutional denial by the police of the right of opposition parties to hold political rallies. The police say they support the democratic rights of all political parties and citizens to assemble and express their views if they do so within the bounds of the law. Fr. Emmanuel Chikoya, General Secretary of the Zambia Council of Churches, one of nearly 12 civil society organizations that published a statement on Tuesday, tells VOA’s James Butty, the organizations condemn the uneven use of the police in deciding who should protest and who should not.