Makebi Zulu Chases Police From Residence in Malambo

Makebi Zulu Chases Police From Residence in Malambo
Police officers in Mambwe District, Eastern Province, visited Makebi Zulu at his private residence in Malambo area, where a confrontation unfolded that ended with the officers being ordered to leave the premises.

Zulu was at his home when police officers arrived and entered the property in the early hours of the day. Eyewitnesses said the officers mounted a visible operation around the residence, briefly cordoning off the surrounding area and drawing the attention of local residents.

According to eyewitness accounts and a recorded interaction from the scene, police officers instructed Zulu to disperse people who had gathered at the residence, stating that they were acting on information suggesting the presence of a lawful assembly.

Zulu rejected that classification, stating that the individuals present were visitors who had come to greet him at his home and not participants in any organised meeting or rally. He told the officers that they were on private property and that he was entitled to receive visitors without police permission.

He stated that the residence was his home and that the gathering was informal and social in nature. According to Zulu, the visitors had come to see him after he had recently been involved in an accident and had not been in the area for some time.

During the exchange, Zulu questioned the basis of the police operation and challenged the accuracy of the information that had prompted officers to attend his residence. He told the officers that whoever had reported the matter had provided incorrect information.

Police officers cited security considerations as justification for their presence. Zulu rejected that explanation, stating that he did not require police protection and had not requested police intervention.

As the exchange continued, officers suggested that Zulu should disperse the visitors or report himself to the police. He declined both options and stated that he had not convened any organised gathering and therefore bore no responsibility to disperse people who had come to greet him.

The confrontation escalated when Zulu repeatedly instructed the officers to leave his property. He directly ordered them off the premises, stating that their continued presence was unlawful. The officers subsequently withdrew from the residence. No arrests were made, and no physical confrontation occurred.

After the police left, residents and supporters gathered near the property seeking clarification on the purpose of the police operation.

Beyond the immediate incident, the confrontation has intensified debate around policing, political space, and the application of public order regulations, particularly as Zambia enters an election year.

Opposition parties have for several years complained of denied permits, blocked meetings, and disrupted rallies, while activities organised by the governing United Party for National Development have continued to proceed. These complaints have formed a consistent part of opposition criticism of policing practices.

Within this context, the police action at Zulu’s residence has been interpreted by opposition figures as part of a broader effort to constrain opposition political activity. They argue that such interventions risk reinforcing perceptions of selective enforcement of public order laws.

Political analysts note that repeated confrontations between police and opposition figures carry reputational risks for the government. Some argue that, if unaddressed, such incidents may erode public confidence in the neutrality of law enforcement and undermine democratic credibility.

They further contend that if the government is not directing police action against opposition voices, it bears responsibility to act decisively to ensure policing practices do not fuel perceptions of political bias.

Police officers involved in the recorded exchange did not reference any political affiliation. By the time of filing this report, police had not issued an official statement explaining the operation at Zulu’s residence.