By ADRIAN MWANZA
POLICE in Choma have warned UPND cadres who closed down Debonairs Pizza eatery belonging to PF Member of the Central Committee (MCC) Kebby Mbewe, for not displaying a portrait of the President Hakainde Hichilema.
Southern Province acting Police Commissioner Alfred Nawa confirmed that he summoned some cadres who locked Mr Mbewe’s store and warned them against their ‘illegal’ acts.
Mr Nawa said that they had called all the parties involved and talked to them after the video of cadres harassing employees went viral.
He said that the Police had confirmed that there was no incident involving Mr Mbewe tearing a portrait that had been displayed in the store and the story was fabricated.
Mr Nawa also said by law there was nothing wrong with people not displaying a portrait of the Head of State in their office and places of business.
Mr Mbewe earlier indicated that he was now living in fear because certain individuals were after his life and wanted to kill him.
‘’I can confirm that we met with the two parties comprising the cadres and Mr Mbewe, and we even advised them not to take matters in their own hands in cases like these,’’ he said.
He said that the matter had been put to bed and that the premises had now reopened and it was business as usual.
Mr Nawa however warned that police would not tolerate lawlessness and would deal sternly with all those that would engage themselves in such activities.
He said that people needed to report matters to the police and that they would then investigate accordingly rather than cadres reacting the way they did.
Mr Nawa said the President had made it clear that caderism was not to be tolerated and that the police would not sit idle.
