Police launch manhunt for EFF leader, Kasonde Mwenda, after escape from detention

Police in Lusaka have launched a manhunt for Economic Freedom Fighters Party leader Kasonde Mwenda after he bolted from Lusaka Central Police on Friday.

This was after Mr. Mwenda was rounded together with 23 other protestors who assembled at the Civic Centre to protest against the 25 years concession agreement of upgrading the 327 kilometers Lusaka to Ndola road into a dual carriage way.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Danny Mwale says Mr. Mwenda was advised to indicate the route which he wanted to use from Civic Center to Boma Court and total number of the marchers but failed to respond to the request from the Police.

Mwale said the 23 suspects are detained in police custody charged with the offence of Unlawful Assembly and will appear in court soon.

Police on Friday apprehended Mr. Mwenda who led a group of protesters at Lusaka Civic Centre against the 25 years concession awarded to Macro Ocean Investments Consortium to rehabilitate and construct Ndola-Lusaka road.

During the protest, the group carried placards denouncing the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriage concession and the recently held gay parade.

Opposition leaders, Saboi Imboela, New Heritage Party president Chishala Kateka, Golden Party of Zambia leader Jackson Silavwe were present at the time Mr. Mwenda and his supporters were whisked away in two police vehicles.

The police contended that the protestors did not have a permit to conduct their protest.

Contributed by Augustine Sichula

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