Riots broke out in Manyama area in Solwezi after Police descended on UPND members who were attending the party’s final rally ahead of today’s parliamentary by election.
The members however managed to rescue UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who was addressing the rally.
Onlookers narrated how police in full riot gear descended on the UPND members and started beating up for attending rally which they claimed was illegal.
According to the ECZ guidelines, the official campaign period was due to end at 18 ours local time.
The residents took offence and fought running battles with the Police who kept on firing teargas canisters.
Later on police followed the UPND members in their villages and picked up several of them.
And UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema in his Facebook posting confirmed the attacks on his members.
“Our hearts and prayers go to our people who peacefully assembled for this Manyama meeting in Solwezi only to be savagely disrupted using teargas. I cannot even imagine the condition of some of our people especially babies on the backs of their mothers being teargassed and live ammunition being used, probably injuring people,” Mr Hichilema wrote.
He added, “Even when our people went to the alternative rally venue, Police again disrupted our meeting despite having notified them. We are all in teargas now.”
Mr Hichilema said this shall no longer be accepted in Zambia as such actions have the potential to destabilise the peace and unity.
“This Country has more serious things to fight such as economic downturn, power cuts, job losses, high cost of leaving than killing our citizens in this manner.”
Mr Hichilema said this is the kind of lawlessness this country has been reduced to.
“We don’t understand why our peaceful and defenceless citizens can be disrupted and be blocked from listening to our messages. The conduct of police in these elections has been very unacceptable to say the least and people’s patience is running out. We know and are fully briefed that they want to intimidate voters once more in these elections. We can’t accept this any longer fellow citizens.”
Time was 18:20 ,HH had an illegal meeting.
We need to take the call by Edgar for national prayers on Oct 18 seriously. We have to pray for PF to respect the rule law, for them the stop abusing power and the police, for them to hold free and fair elections. We have to pray for PF thugs led by Davies Chama to stop shooting at innocent citizens. We have to pray that Edgar finally gets a vision. We need serious prayers!
Muzo look at the pictures carefully, the sun is shinning bright which should tell us more about the time the meeting was disrupted. Remember the september equinox happens on the 23rd. I leave you to re-examine this evidence before i fall on you like a ton of bricks with full proof it was not 18hrs the meeting was disrupted.
As Edeegar Lungu is engulfed in a sea of desperation he sends police to disrupt a UPND rally. People have woken up, we will no longer sit idle while you corruptly plunder our resources.
Viva. HH
Good job police. Those chaps should learn to stick to the ECZ guidelines. Keep it up
Desperate times for lungu! I have seen desperate smokers, smoke masamba when they are running low or running short…,, i have also seen desperate drunkards drink goat urine, when they have nothing,,,,,, and lungu seems to fit in all
Muzo have you ever people’s shadows at 18:20
@ muzo, meaning what??? That it took the Police all of 20 minutes to exhaust every other available option before resorting to force? Tear gas should only be used as a last choice when absolutely necessary, not for being a bit late!!
…or even to “teach someone a lesson” as Saulosi thoughtlessly claims. Serious. What do you think these people “learned”; is it helpful?
ThE pictures are so clear meaning that it was way before 18.30.
HH we all know your modus operandi by now. Every time you realize you are losing an election fair and square, you conjure up violence tales between your perfect non-violent cadres and the big bad wolf gangs of PF. Remember some of us have good memories so all your tricks are not lost on us. You are not the president of Zambia you can’t do as you wish. Stop provoking law enforcement with your $illy little rabbit tricks!
ALL THESE PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR UPND TODAY.SHAME PF
There is no difference between 18:00 hrs and 20:00 hrs in Zambia. Nganachilila na chilila. Even Edgar can tell you that bars has time to close, but Kaiser Zulu was shooting at 03:00 am, having DINNER. Who was more illegal assembling?
The first photo at the end of the article clearly shows this was late evening. Don’t look at the clarity of the photos or position of the sun. Look at the length of the shadows.
Whether they like it not, beat us or not, disturb our rally or not, 2016 kuya bebele. Chagwa your end will be as bad as your ascending to power at Mulungushi Rock of Authority
We need to follow the ECZ rules ,cry babies. See the picture on top you see the sun’s position. Police were ok ,you provoked them. They advised them not hold the rally because of time was 17:30, which you can not manage to do it in 30 minutes.
Chaba shani nomba 17:30, yama imwe you started with 18:20, where has that time assumption of your gone. i see the sun position in the pictures, all am asking you is to revise your basic geography bearing in mind the 23rd september equinox. What does that tell you about the time the sun would be setting on the horizon and also consider the geographical position of zambia. it is not exactly at the equator baba!!!!! whether they held the meeting at 17:40 it does not matter, the law can only be enforced after 18:00hrs. what is your proof that maybe HH just wanted to say hello and good luck voting tomorrow. that takes less than 2 minutes. after that people can disperse. i dont think people going home from a meeting is a crime. the crime is holding the meeting after 18hrs. I give you another…
Police brutality under the unruly and corrupt PF regime is worse as we approach 2016,the general election year.
We must brace ourselves for more PF thuggery,which they copied from Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe.
A people-driven constitution will end the PF’s disregard of law and order.
Why do people support police brutality? Zambians amaze me,thats why we are still living in stone age.shame!
Zagaze ,this time is long days short night ,18hrs you will see the sun like its 16 . Especially in Solwezi is in western of Zambia. Go there and you will see what iam saying.
HH wants sympathy from people that is the problem of this leader.
Abena Muzo!! Your first statement was that the time of the meeting was 18:20Hrs, hence HH was breaking the law. When Zagaze challenged you with regard to the position of the sun in the photo, you changed to 17:30hrs, justifying the police brutality by saying “it is not possible to hold a meeting for 30minutes”! Now you are saying that at “18hrs, you will see the sun like its 16hrs”!!!??? Do not defend the indefensible. The law says 18hrs. Let us stick to what the law says, and not ‘bend’ the law to satisfy PF. Let us not condone illegality, whether from the ruling Party or the opposition.
Muzo, we live close by. The confusion started before 16 hrs. Please stop insulting our intelligence
This is the beginning of the end for PF. We call it self destruction. At rallies we dont only have one party supporters but even other parties attend rallies meaning they teargassed even those from PF who in turn has lost their support just then.
This is the beginning of the end for PF. We call it self destruction. At rallies we dont only have one party supporters but even other parties attend rallies meaning they teargassed even those from PF who in turn have lost their support just then.
Chindiks is always better than ponoks! Learn to follow the law to avoid scenes like this.
That’s why we scenes like this all the time pitting the Police against this UPND. They are always in breach of the law these UPND guys.Deliberately disregarding directives just to gain some public sympathy when the Police react. Learn to do things in an orderly manner bar fee color!
I curse Lungu and PF today they have gone too far. Zambia is no longer a democratic country with civilized people. Zambia will never see peace and prosperity unless we cleanse ourselves.
dont waste your votes. vote for upnd the party they fear most as you may know that 2016 they are going they can use all silly tricks but dont be scared go your way show them the door out.
There is no brutality here,police were dis pacing them in peace but satan hardened the heart of there leader no wonder they forced them.
LT why was the meeting deemed illegal, what time was it? Please give us full news not these piece meals.
Its really poor fools how do you tear gas people like that, the best could have been peacefully informing the people to disperse if at all its was illegal or after official time than affecting innocent and vulnerable babies on the backs of they mothers, how do you expect to be voted for with such stupid tactics. I hope people of Solwezi gives you a humiliating defeat. I am more annoyed with these stupid tactics than I was with William and Ruphia Bandas before they lost power to his excellency Michael Chilufya SATA MHSRIP
Ba SIDO MARK you are cursing the blessed ,just wait for results of today if UPND win, it is our party in Zambia,if PF also ours . One Z,One Nation. Do not personaliz politics .(Danger)
HH Z THE LAW BREAKER HEAR.Y BREAK ECZ GUIDELINES?AND U GUYS ARE SUPPORTING HIM.HIS INOCENT SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED YET HE IS A FREE MAN.IF WE ORDINARY CITIZENS COMMIT EVEN A MINOR TRAFFIC OFFENCE,WE ARE NOT SPARED,SO Y SHUD HH A POTENTIAL PRESIDENT TURN HIMSELF INTO A VIGILANTEE.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.LOOK AT THE SUN AND DON’T TELL ME HH AND THE COLLEAGUES AT 18HRS THEY SHOULD NOT CAMPAIGN. PF WILL CRY IN THESE BYE ELECTIONS
Comment:Whether it was b4 or after 18:00hrs police cud not hav resorted to that as it is not a criminal case to hold political rallies after the close of the campaign period.These are simple issues that can b resolved b4 the courts of law.
That’s a very dull comment there chillax!
Ba Muzo, No, it was NOT after 18hrs. Check HH Facebook page. HH first broke the news of Police teargas around 16:35 Zed time. Check his page and you will confirm the time he posted that “newsflash”. So research before you embarrass yourself boss. This story was all over social media yesterday around 16 hrs. Bring out another reason, no sensible person will buy the “18:20” proposition
i was at the rally, so dnt lie the time was 17:05 when we were ordered to disperse the pipo. We tried to tell the Inspector that its better ask the officals to start closing the meeting in private, but some gentleman from Lusaka ordered us to go ahead and provoke the crowd so that they riot and can arrest a number of them to reduce the voters. As they will be locked uo in cells.
As at now there are 135 pipo in the cells of Solwezi police, we have been instructed not to grant bond oe accept admission of guilt fines till after elections.
HH and his people ,pre-timing,the issue so that on facebook it shows that it was 16hrs. He left people in tear gas and run. Be careful Zambians with this type of leaders.
“Pre-timing”?
Come on! The news and photos were all over on social media. I first saw the pictures on Twitter during office hours (before 18 hrs). The strength of a human being is measured by his capacity to admit that he/she is wrong. Muzo, you have lamentably failed that test.
Abena muzo!!!
Barricades barricades..
When did UPND put barricades on public roads?
If HHs rally was peaceful, were they meant to stop the police or the public from attending the so-called HH rally?
And why barricades any way?
After so much drama and acting I have seen from HH and his supporters, I will wait for more information before believing this nonsense. I do not think UPND is as popular as they act to be after losing 7 bye elections back to back. They like either acting or provoking the situation. The best way to go UPND if you are being targeted, stay away from the bullet but show up in numbers for the ballot. That is what we did to KK.
UPND gets physical counselling. Ni Salt muli soup! Teyabana iyo. You misbehave, you are sorted out!
UPND gets physical counseling. Ni Salt muli soup! Teyabana iyo. You misbehave, you are sorted out!
Sad news, Zambia is becoming a Police state now! Why can’t ECZ disqualify candidates who abrogate the Law (Closing time) instead of Police using excessive force on innocent citizens, including babies. Zambia is going backwards into the colonial days when citizens had limited freedom.
The police should know that the people have rejected Lungu and PF and they should not fight the people and HH who’ll employ them. PF is not there forever. as a matter of fact, PF is finished. it is rejected everywhere and it is just trying to survive thru violence.
EDGAR LUNGU IS A CRIMINAL. HE SHOULD BE CAGED! LUNGU IS INDEED PLAYING DOUBLE STANDARDS, HE PREACHES PEACE ON ONE HAND, BUT PERPETUATES HOOLIGANISM ON THE OTHER HAND. POLICE SERVICE IN ZAMBIA IS CURSED! LUNGU IS DESTROYING THE REPUTATION OF OUR COUNTRY TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THE WORLD IS FULLY AWARE OF THE UNREST CAUSED BY LUNGU IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD WILL JUDGE HARSHLY ON LUNGU. ABASH LUNGU! ABASH DESPERATE PF FOOLS!
Show rejection ku ma vote ba upnd not by breaking the law. However, LT give us more information about who is in the wrong. Peace yes , violence twakana.
The North Westerners would rather live without pretence, PF can fu***k itself, we would rather remain with poor infrastructure but maintain our pride, after all who takes roads and development with them to the grave? Man shall go back to the soil the same way he/she came. Did the Cobra take even a gram of gold home? So fooolish this government.
We will again vote UPND
Typical of kacema tricks to woo sympathy….! Bit them up……no one is above the law…!
Pf police, libongani, charity katanga, davies chama , kambwili, mumbi & yo boss edger chakwolwa lungu dt think u will b in leadership for ever, next year u re all going to cry like babies. We re fedup with u all those suporting u what u re doing are foolish like u, bt pipo of zambia ve rejected u they dt want yo leadership u ct force pipo to vote for pf when they ve rejected u. do u think even 2016 u will force pipo to vote for u pipo who ve no vision
Pan your park all LUNGU!!!!!!!!!
VIVA HH
Comment: it is foolish for one to support this kind of police brutality. in fact as much as we know praying is important…lets b careful with some national prayer meetings. it matters who calls for such prayers. calling for reconciliation and an end to violence and a week later u send police brutality on innocently and peacefully assembled people. This prayer and fasting is for what……?
SHAME TO YOU LUNGU AND YOUR BRUTALITY. YOU ARE SUCH A DOUBLE-STANDARD AND DANGEROUS PERSON. YOU ARE A MESS!
EDGAR LUNGU IS A CRIMINAL. HE SHOULD BE CAGED! LUNGU IS INDEED PLAYING DOUBLE STANDARDS, HE PREACHES PEACE ON ONE HAND, BUT PERPETUATES HOOLIGANISM ON THE OTHER HAND. POLICE SERVICE IN ZAMBIA IS CURSED! LUNGU IS DESTROYING THE REPUTATION OF OUR COUNTRY TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THE WORLD IS FULLY AWARE OF THE UNREST CAUSED BY LUNGU IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD WILL JUDGE HARSHLY ON LUNGU. ABASH LUNGU! ABASH DESPERATE PF FOOLS! LUNGU THIEF! LUNGU MALABISI!
in chingola there was a big riot also. the riot had to do with illegal plots
I was at Kaunda Square Stage I this morning having my hair cut before they could finish power went off and this was the comment from the barber,
Awe nangu nia ababene bale ati aba Ngombe, chawa tu ba votelefye mwee pantu balungu bene ba filwa. ( Even these people they are calling Kachema may be can do something better)
Then the other responded, uwunga votela ba PF chipuba pantu nama kada yabo muno mu Kaunda Squre abale shaina ukunwa mosi nomba balenwa fye chibuku. ( Who ever can vote for PF must be confused even their cadres who used to boost drinking mosi have now resorted to chibuku)
This is how bad it is for PF and Edgar. The mood is that of change generally the few palces where I have gone.
I’m failing to understand the reasoning of the police here! If HH is the one who broke the law why not arrest him, he is the one who was addressing the rally but they arrest the people who were just listening and the other thing is; why tear gas the defenseless people who had no weapons and were not attacking anyone! I smell a rat here! These illiterate unprofessional policemen leave much to be desired! This ugly bitch in Lusaka Charity Munganga Chanda is just quiet she can’t say anything, but she moves at lightening speed to issue statements if it is the opposition!!
Do not be deceived that HH comes to power will sort out all the problems of Zambia. It is not politicians who work in government ,they are civil servants learned one who do everything.
Friends, there are always better ways of dealing with non-violent people if we must. God gave us mouths to speak. Why should we resort to violence? Don’t cry when we declare this country as not being entirely peaceful to the International community because it is clear that the government has no heart for its people. There is no difference between what we are doing to our people and what the boers and other whites used to do in colonial days. We celebrate Independence and yet things are the same as when we were under colonial times and for now it is us doing this to our own people.
It is very obvious that there is a PF scheme to ensure that UPND loses by all means through intimidation of voters and campaign teams. Open yours eyes and see! Ask yourself why these incidences are only…
its not necessary for us Zambians to be careless with our writing’s, doesn’t matter which party you support but what is very important for me is Peace. Why should police always resort to firing guns,tear gases etc? why should will all of a sadden start getting used to sounds of guns? yet stupid people are happy with it.its total shame on you guys. AM SAD
I’m failing to understand the reasoning of the police here! If HH is the one who broke the law why not arrest him, he is the one who was addressing the rally but they arrest the people who were just listening and the other thing is; why tear gas the defenseless people who had no weapons and were not attacking anyone! I smell a rat here! These illiterate unprofessional policemen leave much to be desired! This ugly bitch in Lusaka Charity Munganga Chanda is just quiet she can’t say anything, but she moves at lightening speed to issue statements if it is the opposition.
They should have just dispersed the crowd but following them into their villages was the waste crime they committed. So will 18th October be of any meaning if Chagwa is calling for prayers while instructing police to brutalize Innocent villagers.
cops in zambia much be careful!!!
I wonder the peaple who are saying ‘look on the pic there is a shadow’ i would urge you to revisit you grade 9 geograph before you pass your silly comments. Police you are being used by these foolish individuals who are just concerned with there families. Lets love one another. The bible says “DO UNTO OTHERS AS U WOULD LOVE THEM TO DO TO YOU.”
HH u cant rule this country u r still a under five just cotinu ukuteka ing ombe.
Time to answer will come, we had powerful ‘leaders’ like Idi Amin, Mobutu, Ceacescu and many many more – all very very powerful. They had more tear gas than what Zambia has currently. But did time not come? Mark my words people, time always comes. All what is happening will be accounted for. I am neither for the ruling party nor the opposition, but I am bearer of the message that time to account will come. Records of babies being tear gassed will be sought. Time will come!
whatever time it was there was no need for the police to be so high handed tear gassing women and children is unacceptable.
The tear gassing is bad, but why should one hold a rally up to 18 hours when they had more than two months to campaign? If you trouble trouble trouble will trouble you.
Well DONE POLICE…..THESE UPND THUGS HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE LAW