POLICE in Solwezi have arrested 42 people after riots that ensued following a road traffic accident in which four people were injured.
North-Western Province police chief Fabian Katiba said those arrested have been charged with several offences including arson, assault of police officers and riotous behaviour.
An angry crowd on Sunday ran amok and set a car ablaze after its driver ploughed into a crowd near a church.
Police had to fire tear gas canisters to quell the riot, which also saw a police post being set ablaze.
Trouble started after a woman ran over four people after she lost control of the car she was driving.
Mr Katiba named the victims of the accident as Frank Kalaba, Patrick Mpande, Nelson Sanyiwangu and Jessy Mundengu.
[pullquote]An angry crowd on Sunday ran amok and set a car ablaze after its driver ploughed into a crowd near a church.[/pullquote]
He said the driver, who fled the scene after the accident, will be charged with dangerous driving.
Mr Katiba said five police officers were injured, one seriously, while the owner of the car, Mwika Mulao, was badly beaten after he was dragged out of the car.
He said the angry mob turned its wrath on police officers who were trying to rescue the owner of the vehicle from being beaten.
Police fought running battles with rioters but failed to contain the situation and had to call for reinforcement from other security wings.
Close to 40 heavy duty trucks that transport copper concentrate from Lumwana in Solwezi to the Copperbelt for processing were marooned as the road between town and Kyawama township was blocked with logs and rocks.
Mr Katiba said police have a duty to protect everybody and that people should not look at them as enemies.
He said everybody seeks protection from police and that when officers rescue someone from injustice, people should not think that they are siding with the offender.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
So the lady who run over the four people managed to escape the wrath while the passenger, who happens to be the owner of the car is the one who instead got some instant justice. Only Pa Zed. 😕
Mr Katiba said police have a duty to protect everybody and that people should not look at them as enemies. Cant say that for Mufumbwe can we?
Elo the lady is a muka mwine of a fellow shi mine who was asleep at home after night shift! God help us.
PEOPLE NEED THAT $18 MILLION INVESTED BACK IN THEIR COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE SAFE AND GOOD ROADS.IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT ZCCM HOLDING SHOULD AND INVEST THAT MONEY IN CENTRAL AND C/BELT PROVINCES WHILE THE LAND WHICH PRODUCES THE COPPER HAS DEPORABLE ROADS .HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THAT?
For sure!! We Zambians are not peaceful but we are just a bunch of Cowards. I support that Mob Justice, its time for us to change from Cowardish to brave people like our South African friends are. Nowonder we are being taken for granted by our Goverment and its so called “Investors”. We are sick and tired! WE NEED TO REACT TO EVERY “UNHUMAN BEHAVOUR”. How can someone’s girlfriend smash inocent people with a borrowed Car. We shouldn’t tolarate such. Our Police Force is also F***ked and the only way to wake them up is to Burn them!! Lets BURN IT!!
What the hell is happening in NWP of Zambia? We seriously need leadership from the powers that be to stop this mess or else an unquenchable and infectous fire will engulf the entire country.