Why we arrested EEF leader, Mwenda Kasonde —Police

Police in Lusaka has said opposition EFF leader, Mwenda Kasonde, failed to provide relevant information needed to grant him and his group a public march.

The failure to do so, the police claimed, led to the arrest of 23 people for unlawful assembly.

Danny Mwale, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, said the facts were that Kasonde on March 3, 2023 notified the Police about a peaceful demonstration his Political Party intended to hold on March 10, 2023.

“In order not to disturb the peace of other members of the public, the leader was called by Police and advised to indicate the route they were to use (from Civic Center to Boma Court) and total number of the marchers but failed to respond to Police request until on March 10, 2023 around 14:00 hours when Police were informed that a group of people had gathered at Civic Center,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

According to Mwale, Police officers moved in and apprehended the 23 suspects who were currently in Police custody charged with the offence of Unlawful Assembly.

He said the suspects who included four females were arrested on March 10, 2023 around 14:30 hours at Civic centre where they had gathered.

They were identified as Abel Musonda aged 25, Jeff Filamba aged 32 both of Kalingalinga compound, George Mwenyumbi aged 36 of Kuomboka compound, Zenus Daka aged 28, Joseph Lungu aged 20, Namo Phiri aged 27, Moses Nyirenda aged 21, Beatrice Pilo aged 47, Bwalya Katongo aged 29, and Coaster Museke aged 24 all of Bauleni compound in Lusaka.

Others included Bwembya Mubanga aged 30 of Emmasdale, Bale Suzi aged 41 of Kabulonga Extension, Ibrahim Kabwe Mwamba aged 34 of Chalala area, Kamau Nathan aged 27 of Kamwala South, Danny Kalenga aged 35 of Chawama compound, Gift Nguni aged 28.

Also listed were Gilbert Njovu aged 22, Collins Muyunda aged 32 all of Chilenje, Thomas Mvula aged 42 of Mtendere compound, Nkole Mubanga aged 49 of Ngombe compound, Astone Mwanza aged 42 of Ibex area, Moses Nyirenda aged 21 and Victor Malauni aged 24 of New Kasama in Lusaka.

“They will appear in court soon,” Mwale said.

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