Maravi

Cops censure Fr Bwalya over honking

Cops censure Fr Bwalya over honking
By Fridah Nkonde in Ndola
Thu 01 Sep. 2011, 12:00 CAT

COPPERBELT police on Tuesday cautioned Get Involved Zambia executive director Fr Frank Bwalya against honking unnecessarily and killing animals in public. Copperbelt police commanding officer Dr Martin Malama on Sunday summoned Fr Bwalya to his office over some statements he was making against elected leaders.

Dr Malama told journalists in Ndola after meeting Fr Bwalya that he was concerned about the utterances the cleric was giving at public rallies about elected officials and how he would forcefully remove them.

He said Zambia had laws and if anyone felt the elected officials were fraudulently chosen, they were free to go to court.

"Elections will be conducted in a free and fair manner and if one decides to take the law in his hands, he will be to blame," Dr Malama said.

He said he cautioned Fr Bwalya about honking, which was an offence, and about him killing animals in public.

Dr Malama said people campaigning should obey laws during campaigns because the law reigns supreme.

And Fr Bwalya described the discussion with Dr Malama as cordial and reciprocal.

In an interview after the meeting, Fr Bwalya who was accompanied by PF provincial chairman Rebby Chanda, PF district chairman George Chisulo and Get Involved Zambia members said Dr Malama expressed concern over what he (Fr Bwalya) said in Luanshya's Mpatamato area about removing President Rupiah Banda from State House once re-elected after the September 20 elections.

"I said to the people of Luanshya that I was prepared to die there at State House," he said.

Fr Bwalya said the second issue was about what he did at a rally in Mpatamato where he killed a chicken and broke its eggs to illustrate a point that those who wanted change should avoid vote splitting as a way of counteracting rigging.

Fr Bwalya said Dr Malama also wanted to remind him that honking unnecessarily was an offense.

"It is about the ‘Rupiah achoke' campaign which we have started having every Friday that the police wanted to remind me that unnecessary honking is an offence," he said.

Fr Bwalya said he would pray over what was discussed and issue a comprehensive statement about his views on the three points that were discussed.

Labels: FRANK BWALYA, RED CARD CAMPAIGN

posted by MrK @ 1:19 PM