By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –
FOURTEEN people have been warned and cautioned in connection with the recent disturbances at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola when a group of youths invaded the premises with intentions to lynch Matero Member of Parliament (MP) Miles Sampa.
Mr Sampa was on his way to Kitwe to launch his political party but was intercepted at the airport by scores of youth suspected to be PF cadres who were ferried to the area in trucks.
The incident was strongly condemned by Government with Vice-President Inonge Wina issuing a statement in Parliament that the Police were investigating the matter to establish those involved and that the culprits were going to face the law regardless of which political party they belonged to.
Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga who was giving an update on the investigations said 14 people had so far been warned and cautioned over trespassing and disturbing the peace at the airport.
Ms Katanga told journalists in Kitwe yesterday that investigations into the disturbances at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport which happened on February 1, involving the interception of Mr Sampa by a group of people who were ferried to the area using trucks, had reached an advanced stage.
“So far, we have collected printouts of some of the motor vehicles used to ferry people who allegedly disturbed the peace at the airport and we have taken them to the Road Transport and Safety Agency for identification,” Ms Katanga said.
Ms Katanga said certain names were identified and the suspects had since been warned and cautioned over trespassing and disturbing the peace at the airport.
She said investigations were still ongoing and that once they were concluded, the Police would then determine the next course of action.
Meanwhile, Ms Katanga has counseled police officers in the province to desist from engaging in partisan politics because doing so compromised their role of providing service to the general public.
The Copperbelt Police chief warned that all those who would fail to heed her advice would be strongly dealt with as it was not the duty of officers to engage in partisan politics.