ZAMBEZI RESIDENTS RIOT
RESIDENTS of Chingalala area in Zambezi district over the weekend fought battles with police and damaged property belonging to the ministry of Agriculture, offices at the Airstrip and one Toyota Landcruiser belonging to the ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.
Meanwhile, 12 people have been arrested in connection with the riots that took place in that district.
Explaining the incident, North western commissioner of police Auxensio Daka said the incidence happened after the community which is Luvale dominated were denied permission to bury a village headman by the name of Kahoko in the same area which is a disputed land between the Lundas and Luvales.
He said the area is not a designated burial site or cemetery though the community had already made the decision to bury their traditional leader.
‘’When this information reached the police, consultations were quickly made with the council officials concerning the matter who advised that the traditional leader should not be buried in that area as it is reserved for a modern market but that the traditional leader should be buried at either of the two official burial sites in Chilengi or the one behind FRA shade, Mr Daka explained.
He said police tried to engage the bereaved community but the efforts were all in vain as the community including the family claimed that the area they prepared the grave was a plot for the deceased village headman.
‘’And in the process police decided to seek intervention of senior chief Ndungu of the Luvale speaking people but the meeting hit a snag as the chief blamed the police that they were siding with the Lundas as he suspected that they were acting upon receiving complaints from the them (Lundas). But police officers later stopped the community from going ahead with the burial, he said.
He said police officers went to prevent the burial but they were outnumbered by the people at the site and decided to retreat.
He said one of the groups of mourners chased the officers whilst throwing stones at them while the others continued burying. ‘’When officers reached the station, a very big group of people appeared from the direction of the airstrip armed with machetes, stones, catapults and sticks and charged towards government buildings while throwing stones at the buildings causing some damages to the buildings, he explained.
He said officers charged towards the riotous group and in the process managed to arrest 12 people.‘’And those arrested will be charged for the offence of riotous behaviour by damaging buildings contrary to section 82 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia, he added.