Police harass Imboela over reports of police attempting to arrest Bishop Mpundu

POLICE yesterday summoned National Democratic Congress leader, Saboi Imboela, for allegedly circulating false information on social media that Emeritus Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu’s house was surrounded by the police.

The police have accused Ms Imboela of circulating the information that the police had surrounded Archbishop Mpundu residence on Friday last week.

Ms Imboela who was not amused that the police had continued fishing and harassing her. In an interview, she said she had reported herself to police ready to be arrested and delivered to any part of the country.

She said the police were questioning her about a post on a Facebook page they alleged belonged to her whose message was to the effect that the Zambia police had surrounded the residence of Archbishop Mpundu with the intention of arresting him for characterising President Hakainde Hichilema as a one man dictator who should never be allowed to go beyond the first term.

“They (the police) called me to ask me about a post they claimed was on my Fcebook page where it was reported that the police had surrounded

Emeritus Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu with the intention of arresting him. You know that Archbishop Mpundu has come out strong against President Hichilema whom he has described as a one man dictator who should not be allowed to go beyond the first term. They (police) thought they would intimidate me and I was ready to be arrested and transported to whichever place they would have taken me,” Ms Imboela said.

Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said the police summoned Ms Imboela for questioning at Police Headquarters at 10:00 hours and complied accordingly.

Mr Hamoonga said it was gratifying that Ms Imboela did not resist but presented herself before the police.

But Ms. Imboela said she was disappointed that she was summoned over an issue that was viral on social media which she did not originate. The opposition leader said her summon was purely form of intimidation.

“The police had a narrative I have never heard before. They said posting rumors is a crime and that my page is highly followed and Bishop Mpundu is an influential figure. They told me that what they alleged I had posted could easily trigger war,” she said.