Police arrest, detain MMD cadre for assaulting reporters
Police arrest, detain MMD cadre for assaulting reportersWritten by Staff Reporter
Thursday, August 06, 2009 5:25:58 AM
POLICE in Lusaka yesterday arrested MMD Lusaka Province youth chairperson Chris Chalwe for beating Post and Times of Zambia journalists and is expected to appear in a magistrates' court today.
Police sources revealed that Chalwe was yesterday taken to Kamwala Remand Prison pending his court appearance at 08:30 hours.
The sources said Chalwe appeared in court yesterday afternoon and would appear again before the magistrates' court 10 for setting of trial dates.
On Wednesday last week, Chalwe beat up Post journalist Chibaula Silwamba and Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa.
Chalwe, who led a group of MMD cadres in harassing journalists from both private and state-owned media houses, beat up Silwamba and Mulowa at Lusaka International Airport where they had gone to cover President Rupiah Banda's return from Uganda where he gone to attend the Smart Partnership Dialogue Summit.
Silwamba was beaten in full view of Lusaka Province police commanding officer Greenwell Ng'uni, some senior MMD and government officials.
And Silwamba said police yesterday invited him and Mulowa to Lusaka Central Police Station to identify the suspect.
Silwamba said during their meeting, Chalwe asked him and Mulowa for forgiveness but they refused, demanding that the law take its course.
“When I asked him if he acknowledged beating me, he admitted. Mr Chalwe said, 'yes I did. I slapped you but forgive me. I apologise again. This will not happen again.' He admitted and apologised in my presence and other people who were there are Post reporter Sydney Mungala, Anthony Mulowa and the police officer,” said Silwamba. “Mr Chalwe asked for forgiveness from us during our meeting in room C10 - Lusaka Urban and Rural at Lusaka Central Police Station.”
posted by MrK @ 4:27 AM
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