.KASOSA

By CHATULA KAMPO and JAMES KUNDA –

BUSINESS in Ndola came to a standstill yesterday when scores of residents in different parts of the city rioted leaving a police post damaged, vehicles burnt and shops looted.
The riot that started around mid-morning from Kaloko spread through Kabushi and Masala townships to Ndola’s central business centre, where some shops were also looted.
Police fired teargas to disperse rioters, who torched vehicles parked at Kaloko Police Post and smashed windows to the police post, while blocking roads with logs, rocks and burning tyres.
The riots started when rumour went round that police in Kaloko had apprehended a man who was allegedly sent by a named local business executive to abduct four children for ritual killings.
Copperbelt police chief , Joyce Kasosa dispelled the rumour, saying the police did not have any person remanded for abducting children and had not recorded any cases of child abduction or sudden deaths.
This was after word went round via a local radio station that someone from within Ndola had been arrested by police for abducting toddlers and killing them to get private body parts.
“That information is baseless and unfounded because police have not arrested anyone abducting children, let alone received reports of children going missing.
“Responsibility to factual reporting before information is published must be observed because alarming citizens unnecessarily is a recipe for anarchy,” she said.
Ms Kasosa said police had the role to maintain public law and order, thus, no individuals involved in malicious acts would be tolerated.
Several rioters were apprehended but by Press time, police could not give a specific number of those rounded up.
A check at the police post found the building damaged and five private vehicles, among them a Chat Milling truck, ablaze.
Main roads in Kaloko, Masala and Kabushi townships were closed, as angry mobs threw stones at passing vehicles.
Some shops, banks and the main bus station in the town centre were closed and vendors had removed their merchandise for fear of being looted and damaged.
Residents gathered around the shop of a named local business executive near the bus station in town centre with intention of breaking into his shop to loot.
Some unruly residents looted and damaged property at a store on Kabelenga Avenue.
Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenga described the riotous behaviour by some Ndola residents as unfortunate and political.
Mr Musenge said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that he had demanded for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“It’s quite unfortunate that property has been damaged. We as a province have never received those reports of kids being abducted and private parts being removed. Even police have no such information.
This might be coming from some opposition political parties,” he said.