By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
THIRTY-FIVE Kafue residents arrested during riots yesterday appeared in a Kafue magistrate’s court and pleaded not guilty to riotous behaviour.
Kafue residents on New Year’s Day ran amok after a Police officer’s car allegedly knocked down a trader, Ireen Kaluba, who has since been admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
The riot resulted in one person dying after he was hit by a stray bullet as the Police were desperately trying to stop the riot which led to widespread damage to property.
The residents set ablaze eight motor vehicles that they found at Lumumba and Mtendere Police posts, resulting in the arrest of the 35.
Bright Makanyo and 34 others were charged with riotous behaviour.
It was alleged that Makanyo and others on Friday, last week, rioted and caused damage to public property.
The 35, who appeared before Magistrate Annie Mbewe, told the court after the charge was read out to them that they were not guilty.
Ms Mbewe later granted bail to 17 of the 35 accused persons and ordered each one of them to pay K500 cash. They were ordered to produce two working sureties.
The other 18 could not be granted bail because they were of no fixed abode.
There was a heavy presence of Police in riot gear while relatives and friends of the accused persons gave solidarity to their relatives.
Trial commences on Thursday, this week.
