Chipata 'mourns' Rupiah regime

Chipata 'mourns' Rupiah regime
By Joseph Mwenda and Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sun 18 Sep. 2011, 13:55 CAT

PARAMILITARY police officers in full riot gear yesterday struggled to control thousands of Chipata residents who filled up the central business district in a march-past organised to signal the end of President Rupiah Banda's regime.

This happened when PF Chipata Central parliamentary candidate Lameck Mangani and his entourage marched from his residence in Moth to Mpezeni Park near Kapata Market where he addressed his supporters. The procession forced shop owners, marketeers, cyclists and taxi drivers to abandon their businesses and join in what was termed as a revolutionary march-past.

As the jubilant multitude walked past the Great East Mall, shoppers in all the shops went out to witness the largest ‘crusade' ever witnessed in Chipata.

The situation caused a huge traffic jam as both lanes of the Great East Road were overtaken by the procession.

After close to an hour, riot police officers armed with teargas canisters, launchers and short buttons then came rushing towards the scene and tried to disperse the PF supporters.

This did not work as PF officials confronted them with a four-hour police permit that was granted to them earlier.

The procession then went on with heavy police presence attracting some shop owners in Chipata's downtown area who could not resist the ecstatic mood brought about from chants of "we want change" by the people.

Police officers who were deployed to control the situation watched helplessly as the PF supporters took over Kapata Market bus station currying a mock coffin of President Rupiah Banda.

At Mpezeni Park, Mangani briefly addressed the supporters, thanking them for what he described as massive support rendered to him during his campaign trail.

"On Tuesday, please let's go in numbers and show Rupiah Banda that Chipata has changed. Let's show him that people want change and his time to retire has come. After you vote, remain at the poling station, sleep there until all the votes have been counted," said Mangani.