Tension flared in Lusaka on Monday when alleged United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres attacked opposition Patriotic Front (PF) officials inside Kabwata Police Station, injuring at least two people and freeing a detained youth leader.
According to eyewitnesses and party officials, the incident occurred around 16:00 hours after PF Central Committee member Danny Bwalya Yenga and Kabwata Constituency chairperson John Kabulo escorted a suspect, identified as Remmy Milumbi, to the station. Milumbi, the Kabwata UPND vice youth chairperson, had earlier been apprehended by PF members at Kamulanga Secondary School voter registration centre after allegedly attempting to register using two different National Registration Cards (NRCs).
Yenga, who also serves as the PF deputy national mobilisation chairperson, said the group peacefully took Milumbi and the two NRCs to police but were made to wait for more than an hour before chaos erupted.
“We handed him over to the officer-in-charge with evidence. As we waited, a gang of UPND cadres armed with pangas and sticks stormed the station. They started beating us in full view of the police before dragging Milumbi away,” Yenga narrated. “They sped off with him while officers watched helplessly.”
He alleged that the attack was part of a wider scheme to interfere with the ongoing voter registration exercise, warning that such incidents could compromise the credibility of the 2026 general elections. “We can only speculate that similar schemes are happening elsewhere. This is why we have resolved to monitor the process countrywide,” he said.
The PF mobilisation team has since appealed to the Zambia Police Service and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to investigate the matter thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Police sources at Kabwata Station confirmed that there was a “disturbance” involving rival party members but declined to give details, saying a report had been forwarded to headquarters for further action.
The incident has drawn public criticism, with community leaders describing it as another sign of growing political intolerance ahead of the 2026 polls. Kabwata residents interviewed yesterday said they were concerned about violence occurring even within police premises.
Human-rights groups have urged authorities to ensure that law enforcement officers act impartially. “It is unacceptable for political cadres to invade a police station and assault people without consequence,” said one activist who asked not to be named.
The ECZ, meanwhile, reiterated that voter registration offences carry severe penalties under the Electoral Process Act and that individuals found with duplicate NRCs risk prosecution.
Tensions between PF and UPND supporters have escalated in recent months as both parties mobilise for next year’s elections. Several violent clashes have been reported during voter registration and public gatherings despite repeated calls for restraint by civic leaders.
As of press time, no arrests had been confirmed, and the whereabouts of Milumbi remained unclear. The PF said it would continue monitoring the registration process and demanded police protection for its members conducting lawful political activities.
“The culture of violence must stop. Zambia’s democracy cannot thrive when citizens fear for their safety even inside a police station,” Yenga said.
