By Sylvester Mwale and Norma Siame –

FORMER Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba was yesterday blocked by riot police officers from featuring on a live radio programme in Kasama to explain his resignation from Cabinet during the week.

Mr Mwamba announced his resignation from Cabinet early last week citing differences between the Government and the Bemba Royal Establishment (BRE).

He said his abrupt resignation came in the wake of a phone conversation with President Michael Sata, who reprimanded him on his decision to visit Paramount Chief Chitimukulu-designate who has not been recognised by the Government.

Mr Mwamba was scheduled to feature on a Radio Mano 10:00-hour live phone-in programme but police officers were deployed as early as 08:00, forcing the Kasama member of Parliament (MP) to abandon the programme.

A check by the Sunday Times found a heavy presence of police officers in riot gear while Mr Mwamba was nowhere to be seen.

However, the radio station managed to contact Mr Mwamba at his home in Kasama by phone where he spoke for about 10 minutes.

During the interview, Mr Mwamba said he could not make it because of the officers that had been deployed at the radio station.

The former minister insisted that he was innocent and wondered why he was being guarded by the police.

“I am speaking from home, I have not run away and if I have committed any crime, the police know where to find me,” Mr Mwamba said.

However, Northern Province Police Commissioner, Mary Chikwanda said the officers were deployed to maintain law and order and not to prevent Mr Mwamba from featuring on the radio station.

She said following the confusion that erupted on Thursday, it was only important that police were alert to prevent a recurrence.

“You remember that there was violence the other day (Thursday) and the police officers we deployed today had nothing to do with preventing Mr Mwamba but to ensure that there was no violence,” Ms Chikwanda said.

She also denied speculations that she had been transferred following Thursday’s violent clashes among the cadres.

Mr Mwamba received calls from some quarters in the PF for him to resign from the ruling party but the Kasama MP is adamant insisting that he expects President Sata to keep him the same way he kept Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba amid calls for him to resign.