Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Kitwe youths, Taxi and Mini Bus drivers run riot

Kitwe youths, Taxi and Mini Bus drivers run riot
November 13, 2008

A Zambia Police officer fires tear gas into the crowd

Scores of unruly rioting youths, Taxi and Mini Bus drivers today went on rampage in Kitwe Town centre and Chimwemwe Township damaging buildings and destroying property worth millions of Kwacha.

And Zambia Police Commissioner Francis Kabonde has announced that all the political and social functions have been canceled in Kitwe until the situation returns back to normal.

The Youths and drivers who were chanting Anti Government political slogans, smashed windows at the Olympic Milling shopping centre which houses various shops and in the process looted some mealie meal and beef belonging to Zambeef Zambia.

Police had a tough time as they fired tear gas canisters to repel the stone throwing youths and drivers who were protesting against the detention of Radio Ichengelo Station Manager Father Frank Bwalya.

A check around the City centre by ZANIS in the Company of Zambia Police Commissioner Francis Kabonde, Copperbelt Police Chief Antoneil Mutentwa and the the Local Command, found scores of people throwing stones in Chimwemwe Township, Town centre and Chisokone Market.

The entire road network in the City was blocked with burning tyres and logs placed in various places, while at the Zambia Institute of Business Studies (ZIPSIP) teargas canisters were fired to disperse political slogan chanting students who wanted to join the riot.

Police sealed off the entire City which is deserted where business halted as people were scampering from the area in fear of the violent scenes.

Taxi and Mini drivers who accompanied Father Bwalya from Kalulushi where he was detained, drove in a convoy of cars flashing lights and honking in the city centre where they created confusion.

Mr. Kabonde said Police arrested 38 people in connection with the riot which started around 10:30 hours, when father Bwalya was being taken to Kitwe Police headquarters where he was formally charged and released on a K10 Million bond in his own recognisance.

Mr. Kabonde said Father Bwalya who was arrested yesterday around 17:00 hours for engaging in acts intended to promote hostility between sections of the community has been slapped with three charges and would appear in Court on November 27 this year.

He said the Roman Catholic Priest has been charged with issuing statements likely to cause hostility between groups in society through the election programmes he had been broadcasting live on Radio Icengelo in the just ended presidential by-election.

He has also been charged for alleging that the October 30, 2008 Presidential by-election was fraudulent and that the current President Rupiah Banda was illegitimately elected.

Appeal to the media

Mr. Kabonde appealed to both the electronic and print media in the country to be sensitive when disseminating information to members of the Public.

“If you the media are not careful with the way you are disseminating information to members of the Public you may bring despondence and a breach of peace in the country”. Said Mr Kabonde.

He said Peace once lost was very difficulty to retain especially that the Copperbelt was near the region where some neighbouring countries were at War.

He added that the media had a duty to ensure that there was peace in the country and advised all those that were aggrieved by anything to do so through the courts of law.

Mr. Kabonde said that Father Bwalya was earlier warned by the police to stop disseminating his programmes because they were capable of brining discontent on the Copperbelt but he continued.

Mr. Kabonde appealed to the people of the Coppertbelt to remain calm and ensure that undesirable characters who could bring confusion in the Country did not do so.

And father Frank Bwalya appealed to Taxi and Bus Drivers in the City to desist from throwing stones and engaging in other acts of violence.

ENDS/LK/PK/ZANIS.

Labels: FRANK BWALYA, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, KITWE, RIOTS, YOUTHS

posted by MrK @ 8:24 PM