There are certain things that cannot be justified, no matter how strongly one supports his political party.
The attack on Davies Mwila, former Secretary General of the Patriotic Front (PF), by suspected ruling party supporters within the grounds of the Supreme Court on Tuesday is one such incident.
Whatever Mwila may have said to anger those involved, nothing justifies resorting to violence. Political differences, however deep, must never become an excuse for physical attacks.
What makes this incident particularly disturbing is where it happened, within the grounds of the Supreme Court.
Courts are not ordinary public spaces. They are institutions where citizens seek justice, disputes are resolved and the rule of law is upheld. They should never become places where new conflicts are created, as happened on Tuesday.
They must remain places where everyone, regardless of political affiliation or social standing, can appear without fear of intimidation or violence.
An attack within court premises is therefore more than an assault on an individual. It raises serious questions about the security of our courts, respect for judicial institutions and the ability of the state to protect those who seek justice.
If a former senior official of a political party can be attacked within the grounds of the Supreme Court, what assurance does an ordinary citizen have that they can approach the courts without fear?
We have been following developments since the incident, particularly whether the police have arrested anyone in connection with the attack. So far, we have not been able to establish that any arrests have been made.
The police have a responsibility to investigate such incidents promptly and impartially. Their duty is to enforce the law, not to determine who deserves protection based on political affiliation.
This is not the first time Zambia has witnessed political violence of this nature.
In December 2012, Major Richard Kachingwe, then national secretary of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), was attacked by party youths at the party secretariat in Lusaka following an internal leadership dispute.
Among those implicated was Bowman Lusambo, who had publicly threatened to remove Kachingwe from the secretariat. Kachingwe later testified in court that Lusambo was among those directing the attack. Lusambo and three others faced assault charges.
Yet Lusambo subsequently rose through the political ranks, eventually becoming a cabinet minister under the PF government.
The circumstances of that attack were different from what happened to Mwila on Tuesday. But both incidents raise a troubling question about Zambia’s political culture. Have we allowed political violence to become an acceptable means of settling political differences and a culture that is part and parcel of politics in Zambia?
When individuals associated with political violence subsequently rise to positions of influence, what message does that send to young political supporters?
It risks creating the impression that violence is not necessarily a barrier to political advancement and that political loyalty can sometimes provide protection from accountability.
This is a dangerous culture that Zambia must confront, regardless of which political party is in power.
Chief Justice Mumba Malila was therefore right to condemn Tuesday’s incident, describing it as an act of flagrant lawlessness and a direct assault on the administration of justice and the sanctity of the Judiciary.
His statement emphasizes the seriousness of what happened. Violence within court premises does not merely threaten those directly involved. It undermines public confidence in the institutions entrusted with protecting citizens’ rights and administering justice.
The Chief Justice has also announced tighter security at Judiciary facilities, while law enforcement agencies investigate the incident.
These are welcome steps, but they must be followed by concrete action.
The courts are among the last lines of defence against abuse of power. If political intimidation and violence are allowed to take root within their premises, we risk weakening the very institutions that citizens depend upon when their rights are threatened.
What happened on Tuesday must therefore not be reduced to another political quarrel between the ruling party and the opposition.
The more fundamental issue is whether our institutions can protect citizens and uphold the law without fear or favour.
Those responsible must be identified through a credible investigation and, where the evidence warrants it, prosecuted. Political affiliation should neither shield anyone from accountability nor become a basis for presuming guilt.
The Chief Justice has spoken firmly. The police must now demonstrate that the law applies equally to everyone.
A country cannot claim to uphold the rule of law while allowing political violence to go unpunished, especially at the very institutions entrusted with administering justice.
