More condemn Kitwe riots

By ALEX NJOVU  
CIVIL society organisations and the church have strongly condemned the riotous behaviour exhibited by some Kitwe residents on Thursday which left a trail of destruction in the city.
And Police on Thursday evening arrested 12 more people in Kalulushi’s Chibuluma Township who rioted and looted several bags of mealie meal from Chimusoro Milling Company.
The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary Suzanne Matale said the violence and hooliganism demonstrated by Kitwe residents was uncalled for and that violence was not the best solution in resolving differences.
“The CCZ reiterates that the use of violence has never resolved any differences or problems anywhere in the world. Instead it perpetuates and breeds more violence in which innocent people suffer untold miseries,” she said.
Reverend Matale appealed to church leaders to take an active role in ensuring that there was peace in communities in which they live.
“CCZ is calling upon all Zambians to resolve differences in a mature and amicable manner,” she said.
Scores of Kitwe residents on Thursday demonstrated against the arrest of Radio Icengelo station manager, Father Frank Bwalya, bringing business in the city centre to a standstill.
Police arrested 38 people in the aftermath of the riots.
Evangelical Youth Alliance International president Moses Lungu said his organisation was saddened at accusations that a clergyman was reported to have incited Kitwe residents to cause havoc in the city.
Rev. Lungu said church leaders had a responsibility of preaching and encouraging peace and reconciliation among political leaders and ordinary Zambians.
United Church of Zambia (UCZ) presbytery Bishop Committee Njase strongly condemned the people who rioted and damaged property in Kitwe .
Bishop Njase said it was sad that people rioted and damaged property worth millions of Kwacha.
Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba also condemned the protestors, saying there was no need for them to riot.
He said in an interview in Lusaka that there was need for people to find better ways of resolving their problems rather than rushing to the streets.
“Like in this case, some workers may even lose their jobs because people damaged company property and the owners of these companies may give all sorts of excuses. It is always important for people to use proper channels when presenting their grievances,” he said.
And Copperbelt police commanding officer Antonneil Mutentwa said calm had returned to Kitwe and that police had started releasing the 38 people who were arrested on Thursday for riotous behaviour.
“We have started releasing them. But we are only releasing them after paying the admission of guilt fine of K 50,000,” he said.
Mr Mutentwa also said 12 people were arrested on Thursday in Chibuluma after they rioted and broke into the Chimusoro milling company.
And NKWETO MFULA reports that the Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has condemned the riots that took place in Kitwe on Thursday.
ZACCI vice chairman Eddie Kapungulya said riots had a negative impact on the business community.
“Both the ruling party and the opposition should ensure that what they say should not result into tension in the province and the country as a whole,” he said.
Mr Kapungulya said the loss of property could scare away investors in the province, which could retard development.
He said Zambia was a peaceful nation whose peace should be maintained to allow more investors into the country.
“This is the reason why we are saying the aftermath of elections has to be properly handled so that there is no negative impact created,” he said.
And Constituency Concerned Citizens Forum publicity chairperson Wilbroad Mutoloka said people should learn to follow procedures when aggrieved.
He said the arrest of Fr Frank Bwalya by police over the post election programme on radio Incengelo should not have resulted into riots.
“Why start throwing stones and damage properties when they could have gone to police to find out why he was arrested?” he wondered.
He called on people on the Copperbelt to be thankful to government for maintaining peace in the nation.