By JAMES KUNDA –
COMMUNITY Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister Obius Chisala has been remanded in Samfya State Prison after being arrested by police and charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
Mr Chisala, who is aspiring Chilubi independent member of Parliament (MP), has been remanded with five other people with whom he was arrested on Chilubi Island in Northern Province on Wednesday.
The five, of Chief Chiwanangala’s chiefdom, comprise Joseph Mwape, 57, Mumba Katema, 38, Joseph Mwape Junior, 26, Myness Chapubuka, 41, and Faustina Mumba, 44.
The five are Mr Chisala’s sympathisers whom he mobilised to disrupt a public rally addressed by Chilubi Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Rosaria Fundanga on Wednesday.
The incident happened at 14:00 hours on Chilubi mainland, and Mr Chisala, the former area MP, along with the five appeared in the Samfya magistrate’s court yesterday.
Northern Province Police chief Bonnie Kapeso confirmed this in an interview yesterday.
Mr Kapeso warned that police would not tolerate lawlessness during the period leading to and during the elections as the country was renowned for hosting peaceful polls.
“All the six, including Mr Chisala, have been remanded in Samfya State Prison after appearing in court today (yesterday) and may this incident serve as an example to would-be perpetrators of electoral violence,” Mr Kapeso said.
Meanwhile, police in Lusaka yesterday raided a United Party for National Development (UPND) campaign centre in Thornpark area following a public tip-off that the premises were a hive of criminal activity.
Police deputy spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said in a statement that the raid was conducted in the early hours of the day, and that the law enforcement agency carried out the exercise in accordance with the provisions of the law.
“We moved in around 05:00 hours after a tip-off from the public and conducted a search at the premises. Police are investigating the matter,” said Mr Hamoonga, who declined to indicate how many people were arrested during the exercise and any further information, saying investigations could be jeopardised.
UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka described the episode as persecution of party officials by the police.
Mr Katuka alleged that the police forced their way into the centre and that staff, including volunteers, were roughed up and taken in for questioning.