Black Mountain: MP Calls for peace
… as he preaches peace to Chrome Pickers, but warns police not to use maximum force on them
POLICE should not use force on youths and women from Wusakile constituency who are struggling hard to make ends meet at the Black Mountain, but I would like to see a spirit of dialogue to prevail and achieve a win-win situation, Wusakile Member of Parliament Pavyuma Kalobo, has said
Mr Kalobo has equally warned youths and women not to engage in fights with the Police because nothing progressive or beneficial will come out from such confrontation.
In a speech which, clearly targeted hundreds of Chrome Pickers who attended the burial of renowned Kitwe businessman Richard Chileshe Mbulu at Nkana East Cemetery, Mr Kalobo said the responsibility of maintaining peace fell on the shoulders of the Police, youths and every patriotic citizen.
“I will not allow you to engage in fights with the Police because such kind of behaviour is not beneficial in any way, but instead people end up dying in such confrontations. Whoever incites to run amok and fight with the police, tell him to mobilise his family and fight with the police.
“While I would not support or allow you to fight with the Police, I will equally not allow the Police to use maximum force on you because I believe in dialogue when it comes to resolving issues. We all have a responsibility of maintaining peace in this city,’’ Mr Kalobo said
Mr Kalobo said because of fights and misunderstandings over the Black Mountain, an 18-year-old Chrome Picker Lombe Joshua died on the spot after he was ran over by a Tipper Truck, and was buried on Monday at Chisokone Graveyard near the Zambia National Service.
The operations at the Black Mountain started with ugly scenes ranging from riots by Chrome or Hand Pickers, accidents resulting into Chrome Pickers being injured after being run over by Tipper trucks and the recent one was the death of Lombe Joshua .