Business came to a standstill at Lusaka town centre along Freedom Way when angry bus drivers and other sympathizers blocked the road with a stationary bus, concrete blocks and tree branches in protest against police officer’s alleged assault on a fellow driver.
The angry mob shouted anti-traffic Police slogans while others took advantage of the confusion to air their opinions on the removal of maize and fuel subsidies by Government.
Shops near to the scene were closed in fear of possible looting in the mix of the confusion though an hour later, police in riot gear arrived on the scene to try and calm the situation.
However, the crowd turned violent and started throwing stones at the police who were trying to move the stationary bus off the road, forcing the police to fire blanks and teargas canisters to disburse the unruly crowd.
“We wont allow police to brutalize us on top of getting money through their ‘fake’ check points, they were just fortunate today (yesterday),” said one bus driver who preferred anonymity.
The situation returned to normal a few minutes after the police successfully towed the stationary bus off the road leaving many shoppers choked with teargas.
By press time, police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela could not be reached for a comment as her phone went unanswered.
And when they cause accidents we say “God Whats going on”???
Demonstrating and protests without permits would be something i would like to see happen in Zambia but my worry is that we havent reached that level of maturity when it comes to safeguarding property and respecting others.
Whenever Zambians protest, it degenerates into chaos and an opportunity for banditry, looting, & destruction of property, hence the govt is unwilling to even amend the Public Order Act (POA)
If we acted responsibly during such public processions, we could push to have the POA amended or totally done away with.
Our police are not only ill-equipped but are poorly trained to handle such processions.
They don’t look ill equipped to me when they go out to arrest HH or Nevers Mumba??
Funny how some semi-illiterates are trying to use whatever opportunity to protest against subsidy.Let the bus drivers protest alone.
Zambia is becoming ungovernable by the day..eish..PF..!!
The bus drivers misbehave a lot. Viva Buchu, teach those untamed bus drivers a very good lesson so they start behaving on roads.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.