By Josphat Mbewe
Political Analyst Dr. Euston Chiputa has urged police officers to carry out their duties professionally and impartially ahead of the 2026 general elections, cautioning that fear of repercussions from ruling authorities may be influencing some officers to unnecessarily restrict political gatherings.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Dr. Chiputa says the police should avoid censoring themselves when handling notifications for public meetings involving political parties, especially when all security requirements have been met.
He has observed that the police often deny notifications for meetings by opposition political parties even when all security requirements have been met.
He has since called on police officers to study and fully understand the Public Gatherings Bill in order to ensure fairness in the execution of their duties.
The Public Gatherings Bill of 2026, which is awaiting presidential assent, was last week passed by parliament to repeal and replace the Public Order Act of 1955.
-PHOENIX NEWS