Lusaka — THE arrest of MMD's president Nevers Mumba in Lufwanyama, where he was about to address a meeting without a police permit should send a warning to opposition figures in the country who have taken to bandying around the term "police state" with which to beat the current Patriotic Front administration about the head.

The precursor to this was a biting indictment delivered by one of the UPND top brass who labeled the police service as one of Zambia's worst human rights violators.

With the rule of law so obviously lacking among the current opposition figures in dealing with their increasing lawlessness against the Public Order Act, the accusation was far off the mark.

Opposition in politics that does not include the rule of law is a sham and should be skeptically viewed.

Whichever way one looks at Pastor Nevers Mumba, there is a good reason why peace-loving Zambians should take what he preaches politically with a pinch of salt.