UPND YOUTHS RAMPAGE, 25 NABBED
…at Kitwe march-past
TWENTY – FIVE UPND cadres have been arrested while one person was injured and a police vehicle damaged in a confusion which ensued when suspected opposition cadres attempted to disrupt the Youth Day celebrations at City Square in Kitwe.
UPND youths, who were in buses and clad in party regalia, attempted to force their way past the gathering at City Square, while chanting “we want change” slogans.
The fracas, which took about 40 minutes, drew the attention of members of the public with some people running for their lives while most shops were closed for fear of possible looting.
Those that were in buses were then blocked from getting their way to the gathering and in the process they became unruly and started throwing stones at police officers and damaged one of their vehicles.
As the confusion continued, Patriotic Front (PF) youths tried to stop the rampaging UPND youths and in the process the situation got out of hand as the two camps exchanged punches.
During the fracas, one of the UPND youths sustained head injuries with those within town scampering for their safety.
After realising that they had failed to disrupt the Youth Day, the UPND youths proceeded with the march past heading to the party secretariat in Nkana West.
UPND Copperbelt Information and Publicity Secretary, Lawrence Mwanza, could not tell how many UPND cadres had been arrested during the confusion.
Mr Mwanza however blamed the police for the fracas saying the cadres were on their way to the party secretariat when officers started firing teargas canisters
He said the police should learn how to deal with cadres to avoid unnecessary clashes like the one which had happened
A resident, Mr Geoffrey Silwamba said UPND youths had planned to cause confusion at the celebrations while wondering what the situation would be ahead during the general elections.
Meanwhile after the close of the event, Kitwe District Commissioner Chileshe Bweupe, warned of stern action against political party youths engaging in any unruly behaviour.
Mr Bweupe directed law enforcers to remain alert and not tolerate any indiscipline and hooliganism behaviour from cadres.
CHISHIMBA Kambwili must come back home as all members in the ruling party will embrace him, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has said.
Mr Mwamba, who is Patriotic Front (PF) national vice chairperson for mobilisation, said no party member would discriminate the embattled National Democratic Congress president if he decided to re-join the party.
He said in an interview that the PF needed all old members who left to unite again.
Mr Mwamba said Mr Kambwili would be making a right decision if he went back to the PF because he was a founding member of the party.
He said no one would talk ill of Mr Kambwili f he went back to PF because he would only be re-joining the party he had sacrificed for.
Mr Mwamba said: "It might not only be him but even others who left are needed in the party because this is their home.”
Mr Mwamba said the party leadership wanted to see to it that former members came back for them to contribute to its growth.
"It is not wrong to see our friends who left us and are now in the opposition coming back to their home. This is where they belong. They will be more comfortable if they are home than being where they don't belong.
"So my brother Chishimba Kambwili and many others you are most welcome to come back to where you belong so that you play a role in taking the party to higher heights," Mr Mwamba said.