Police in Mbala have arrested a former minister in the MMD government Gaston Sichilima for firing gunshots in the air following the announcement of President Michael Sata’s death.
Mr. Sichilima, 54, of Mwenzo Farm fired the shots at Water Front Lodge in Mbala.
Northern Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga who confirmed the development to ZANIS in Kasama today revealed that the incident happened yesterday at 21:30 hours.
Ms Katanga said that Mr Sichilima was asked to avail himself to Mbala police station where a warn and caution statement was recorded from him.
She said Mr. Sichilima who arrived at 10:00hrs hours today has since been arrested and charged for conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
She added that Sichilima told police during questioning that he was firing the shots in the air to scare away some owls.
Ms. Katanga has also cautioned the general public to uphold good conduct as the country mourns President Sata.
She said police will not hesitate to enforce the law against those abrogating the dictate of a period of national mourning.
Why do some people court trouble?
He looks like a mad person to me. Isnt that picture outside Chainama?
imwe bantu, leave the man alone he was firing at birds in the air,,, hunting umunani
Some leaders sure, playing with toys like Masumba?
Can someone please pardon Masumba so he attends funeral on the 11th November? Masumba & Ba Sata were dear friends.
So it’s a criminal offense to shoot at no one in particular? I like his name – Gunston.
Most Zambians are actually indifferent to Sata ‘s demise. They are actually hoping another better regime will take over and restore Zambia they way it was before PF came to power.
Iwe ka Chete you don’t know what you are talking about. Where gunfire is used for celebratory purposes there are always casualties. I see you didn’t do physics – that projectile comes back to health – dummy.
…comes to EARTH not health. This so-called autocorrect is crap.
No crime has been committed by Gaston at all if he did not injure any one. He learned idea from PF minions like Masumba and Hapunda. If these were not charged with any offence, then Gaston will walk free and possibly sue the police for wrongful arrest.
So PF is going to arrest people who went to drink in celebration of Sata’s death also. If so then they should start with Mmembe, Guy Scott, Kabimba and the group for toasting to Sata ‘s death. It actually people in this group that celebrated the most on hearing that Sata died.
Leave Gaston alone .He was scaring Sata’s ghosts away.
He should be arrested and never be released for me
blasphemy of the highest order
Thanks
People are arrested and charged if they have committed an offence, in this case there is none so the police need educating instead.
You are still alive you. Thought u escorted yr President. You shud be buried with him
Leave the man alone, you can’t force everyone to mourn. He was happy, Sata was arresting people too much.
Just leave the man alone, not all of us are mourning.
We need to be a civilized society. Disagreeing with someone should not give us the right to throw him in jail. I agree that this man’s behavior was odd but come on guys, we should not start to police people’s thoughts and emotions. Let’s be proud of our free country and not sink to the level of Iran, N. korea and other such prison states where people are afraid of their neighbors to turn them in to thuggish government figures.
Hon kambwili, lubinda, chikwanda,yamfwa,sichinga,phiri and nkandu luo bring yourselves down give lungu chance becoz he was appointed by sata. those who want PF to balance appointments lets work togather
You have been blogging this same sentiment using different names. Stop it. It’s not clever and repeating nonsense is just sad.
…I don’t know whether to laugh it off, get annoyed or what…….anyway, the man has given his reasons – scaring away Owls…… what a coincident…???
Hon guy scott change the wrong picture blacks have about whites. this is the time to show blacks that not all whites are our enemies. stop evry act of revenge as you act then leav presidency to lungu. campaign for lungu becoz he was chosen by sata. Then you are a true friend to sata
Mr Wisdom, No Wisdom in what you are saying.
@ “Wisdom”
You are remarkably Stupi.d.
Kekekekekekekekekekekekeke this is a funny world
Indeed a fun world. Especially this part of Africa in particular this cursed nation.
emember this man for physically exchanging blows with someone in Mkushi during a bye election. I have a lot reservations .
Not at all. Lungu was acting President in the period that Sata thought he was going to be away. That’s the first part. The second part regarding his death, the constitution is very clear. The Vice President will act in case the sitting President is incapacitated or dies, don’t mix the two. In this instance, it was rightly interpreted that the Vice President who happens to be Guy Scott does act.
Oh my God! Scaring away owls? wonders never cease these days….Do I laugh, cry or get angry? I do not know for sure. #Yawn
jemule, go thru my comments again. where was mwenye and his law when sata was leaving instruments of power to lungu? belv me or not lungu is our next president. voters will be his lawers
It is called one gun salute–a solo way to mourn the Mighty Invincible Great Leader.
Useless Police, so what offence did they think they can charge him with?
He was shooting spoons and forks into space in time for Sata’s dinner with Mobutu and Pol Pot.
The man should be punished For his unwanted act.
Can u prove the connection, doesn’t make sense.shooting happened almost 24hrs after demise, almost 9hrs after znbc,which naturally,was the last media in the world to announce.let’s say it’s academia.
That was his form of respect for the departed soul.
I’m sure they will fire canons on the day of the funeral.
Democracy down the drain, everything President Sata fought for!!!
kwena sichilima is a dog. How does a sane person celebrate someone’s death besides this person was no ordinary person like some fathers to imbecile bloggers who are busy writing rubbish about our late president.
Tony Blair don’t insult sichilima he has told you he was scaring owls .Mr Sata was my personal friend not my president.I personally Know a lot about the Man.I grew up playing with his son late chilufya once his favourite son.I know what happened to him .This man was not as clean people perceive him.Anyway he is dead and the bible says the soul that has died knows no sin, so lets burry the past and mourn.
@fake Tony blair
I will celebrate the death of a serial killer who has killed a member of my loved one, wont you?
So it is with Sata, some people whose loved ones have lost their lives needlessly because Sata and PF stupid policies regarding Education , Health, Agriculture, high cost of living, lawlessness, selective justice, rampant corruption, nepotism, tribalism and utter disregard for human life, will celebrate his demise as God’s answers to their prayers.
A colleague told me that in Mbala and perhaps the rest of northern province it is a sign of bad omen to have Owls coming around your house or your property. So if the man heard or saw owls around his house and he has a lawful gun he pays for the bullets then he can use them to scare a potential bad omen messenger (OWL). Just thinking!
In Europe owls are signs of good luck! Far from fearing them, we should appreciate owls as competent predators that hunt mice and other rodents, helping to maintain hygiene in nature.
Looks like Maureen Mwanawasa and Nkomeshya are succeeding in killing off those who they view as Mwanawasa’s enemies. Who is next on their list? Make no mistake these two evil women hated President Sata and wanted him dead. Remember the declaration wicked Maureen made at Mwanawasa’s funeral ‘your enemies are now my enemies. Behind closed doors these beasts exposed their true. The ***** would seek audiences with the president and demand he does not appoint certain people as ministers etc. They are beasts who are corrupt and only good for breeding future monsters. My advice to potential presidential candidates and foes’s of Mwanawasa get rid of Maureen Mwanawasa before she takes your life. They will be at the funeral showing fake sympathy and celebrating at their homes.
@ your earliest convenience schedule a visit with a psychiatrist but I doubt if you’ll understand this advice. You seem to be too far gone.
Whatever else you can say about Zambia we are still producing some of the best weed in the world
Are you normal? Please seek medical advice as soon as possible. I’m touched and very sorry, I hope they find you the cure to your sickness.
Kenny you are a useless person.leave the widow alone,As for Nkomesha I don’t have enough information as to weather is a witch but the truth is that she is weak to men if sata chose to commit sin with her then it is not her problem but Sata’s pill to swallow.So leave the poor women alone.You are so back ward Kenny to believe in superstition.
The late Katongo Kays’ partner in thuggery, Judge Ngoma could fire shots into crowds with impunity!
You have just reminded me.Wjere is this criminal he should be taken back to Chimbokaila
It depends on which side he is. Mourning or celebrating but that was uncalled for
He is former minister? I don’t know him? That’s why we need to choose leaders with integrity.
This man is dead and intimidating others continues. What wrong with shooting the air? He has told you that he is scaring birds so this case is non start. Just ask yourself how many times have shots done within lusaka yesturday to scare away thieves. Intimidation is still on.
The best LT Blogger goes to Mushota
Scaring owls? Sounds like too much dagga to own a firearm
Ya sichilima ni yachipena. Muchikate and lock him up. What a dog!
He was fired by LPM for spmething
Alifulwa sana. But Why ifimfuti.
Vry Stupid Sichilima.
Tabasenfya ..one day it wl be u
Gunston, what a brave act? Please contact me, I will pay your legal fees!
If Gaston wants another fight let him challenge the Chitambo Mission peasant farmer who clobbered him with bare knuckles instead of playing with guns.
Uzye we monsi Gunston aliwewe twimanga Fred Sichilima, asi vivyo kwene?
Nemo nakumanyile ati Fred Sichilima mwana ya Tekumwenzo Stores.
Ungachita vivyo uli nawe, former Minister sure.
It is not surprising. As Minister he was wired by a UPND cadre at a bye-election in Chitambo.
He thinks he is Clint East Wood just because he is wearing an imitation of a Stetson on his dull head.
He once went to Parliament and said, “Ya Honorable Speaker, Vino nali nkuvwanga……..” then he was given a point of order and told to sit down because Chimambwe was not and official language to be used in Parliament, but only in Abercon, and around Lake Tanganyika.
He was merely attempting a 21 gun salute mwebantu. Ala!
charity Katanga shud start to behave otherwise her days in that position are numbered especially if the opposition wins the forthcoming presidential by-elections.
Chaya uli monsi firing gun shots in the! Was it anxiety or you were happy with something I don’t know? You still think of ZNS military training at that time! What type of gun did he fire?
when kings die, firing in the air symbolizes happiness and furring on the ground symbolizes sadness.