By NORMA SIAME –
SENIOR Chief Puta of the Bwile people of Luapula Province has been warned and cautioned by Police over recent protests that resulted in the death of his retainer and the destruction of property at Chieftainess Mwabu’s palace.
Chief Puta met with investigators in Nchelenge at the weekend before proceeding to record a warn and caution statement from him after a lengthy procedure.
Luapula Province Police chief Hudson Namachila and Bwile Royal Establishment spokesperson Fabian Chisulo both confirmed this yesterday.
Mr Namachila said the docket relating to the matter had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for perusal to determine whether the traditional leader would face prosecution.
“The statement was recorded in relation to the damage caused at Chieftainess Mwabu’s palace. So it is in respect of malicious damage to property,” he said.
However, Mr Chisulo said Chief Puta was interviewed about the murder of his retainer Peter Muswe, malicious damage to property, and inciting violence.
This was done in the presence of Chief Puta’s lawyer Hobday Kabwe.
Mr Chisulo said the chief was, however, not happy that the Police kept scheduling meetings on a Saturday, which was his day of prayer.
But Mr Namachila refuted the allegations, stating that in fact, the officers were patient with Chief Puta because he had been deferring the meetings on many occasions in the weeks following the unrest in the chiefdom.
The events surrounding the chief’s possible arraignment were linked to his decision to dethrone 86-year-old Chieftainess Mwabu and leading a group of headmen that razed her palace.
The act to dethrone her by force prompted Chieftainess Mwabu’s subjects to retaliate with crude weaponry that included bows and arrows, which resulted in Mr Muswe’s death and several casualties among the villagers.