Police to withdraw from Dr M’membe’s Mwika property – Njase
By Staff Reporter
Muchinga province police commissioner Joel Njase has pleaded ignorance about the arrest of SP members on Saturday in Shiwang’andu district.
And Njase assured that police officers who took occupation of Dr Fred M’membe’s property in Mwika royal village shall be withdrawn soon.
Four Socialist Party members were on Saturday arrested for questioning the police occupation of Dr M’membe’s house in Mwika royal village in Muchima Province.
Njase told newsdayzambia.com this morning that the police command in the province would soon withdraw officers from occupying the premises in senior chief Nkula’s chiefdom.
“Police are mandated to protect the house from being vandalised and also to safe guard the people who are found there. We are therefore appealing to the provisional liquidator Lewis Musho to quickly engage the people involved in this matter before we remove our officers from there,” he said.
“The police have done its work of guarding the premises for Dr Fred M’membe in Shiwang’andu after receiving directives from the provisional liquidator, but the police service will not continue, we have to withdraw the presence of our officers.”
Meanwhile, one of the detention victims, Lovemore shame Kapyanga wondered how Njase could not have known about their arrest.
Kapyanga said his colleagues and himself were detained by police officers from Khulungwe area for associating with the Socialist party.
“ I can confirm to you that I and my friends were detained by the police from Nkhulungwe who brought us here in Chinsali and then we were put in the cells from 15:00, and they released us around 08:00 the following day claiming that we were breaching peace,” said Kapyanga.
“All this issue was politically motivated, just because we are supporting the opposition socialist party under the leadership of Dr Fred M’membe.”
Meanwhile, Socialist Party on the Copperbelt Province spokesperson Joseph Kangwa said the action taken by the police to raid Dr M’membe house was an act of criminality and cowardice.
He charged that the continued occupation of the house by state police was illegal and politically motivated.
“Suffice to say that, as socialist party in the province we are duty bound to join our General Secretary, Dr Cosmas Musumali in calling those occupying Dr M’membe’s property to vacate it immediately. The party on the Copperbelt is demanding for justice for Dr Fred M’membe as he deserves to be treated fairly,” he said.
And Kangwa has described the just ended socialist party rally in Kitwe which was graced by Dr. M’membe as a success.
“The message was well delivered by our Incoming President, Dr Fred M’membe. And we must confirm to the Zambians that his address jolted the entire Country and all the existing political parties including the ruling party,” he said
“ Let me appreciate all the people who came and attended the rally. I salute everyone for turning out in large numbers and for the wonderful support. Without your massive support, the rally could not have been a success. Please continue with the same spirit.”
