Sat, 17 Dec 2016 10:54:30 +0000
POLICE arrested 45 people for riotous behaviour, malicious damage to property and assaulting police officers during Thursday’s riot by UPND cadres at the High Court and Supreme Court buildings in Lusaka.
Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo told a press briefing that of the 45 arrested, nine were women.
“A total of 45 unruly supporters of the UPND were on Thursday arrested; they have since been charged with riotous behaviour, malicious damage to property and assaulting police officers on duty,’’ he said.
The minister expressed disappointment at the level of lawlessness exhibited by the opposition supporters.
He warned that the malicious disregard for the established procedure of conducting public processions would not be tolerated.
“We are a democratic country governed by the rule of law, therefore we expect the supporters of all political parties to operate within the confines of the law,“ he said.
He stated that those resorting to illegal means and trying to support insurgency would be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.
He charged that Government would not allow anyone to disrupt peace as all the citizens, without any exception, had a duty to preserve public order and peace.
Mr. Kampyongo explained that the police had received five complaints from members of the public over the riots.
“We received five complaints from members of the public, four were for malicious damage to motor vehicles, while the fifth complaint was assault occasioning actual bodily harm,’’ he said.
He said that during the riot two police officers were injured but were in a stable condition.
He directed the Zambia Police Service to thoroughly investigate the riot and bring all the culprits to book.
He challenged the police service to scale up patrols in the country and ensure law and order was adhered to by all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation.
