and unconstitutional thereby entitling the petitioners to redress for the violation; (ii) the Regulating officer or the police have no power to refuse notification on the basis that a public meeting demonstration or procession will cause a breach of the peace; (ii) the police action and conduct violated the petitioners’ freedoms of expression and assembly and association guaranteed in Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution; and (iii) the police action and conduct was a breach of the Public Order Act as amended by Acts No. 1 and 36 of 1996. C. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES 296. Police officers are under an obligation to adhere to the Public Order Act when granting conveners of assembly’s permits. In addition the Zambia Police Force Instructions provide rules on how to police assemblies considering the need to maintain peace and safety for both assemblers and the general public. Police officers are not allowed to use firearms, but to employ other restraining methods in case of violence, such as the use of teargas. 297. In practice, although instructions are given to police officers, it is difficult to determine the attitude of police officers towards assemblies. 298. Although assemblies have been generally peaceful in Zambia there have been circumstances where violence was used against demonstrators by overzealous police officers. These include: (a) The alleged shooting of former President Kaunda and Rodger Chongwe in 1995, which occurred during a public rally at Kabwe, 122

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