By NORMA SIAME –

FORMER minister in the MMD administration Gaston Sichilima has been arrested for firing a series of gunshots in the air on the day President Michael Sata’s death was announced.
Mr Sichilima, 54, of Mwenzo Farm, fired the shots at Water Front Lodge in Mbala on Wednesday between 21:30 and 21:40 hours.
Northern Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga said Mr Sichilima was told to report to Mbala Central Police Station where a warn-and-caution statement was recorded from him.
Mr Shichilima arrived at the station around 10:00 hours yesterday and was arrested and charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
He told police during questioning that he was firing the shots in the air to scare away some owls.
Ms Katanga, however, cautioned the public to uphold good conduct in the period the country is mourning President Sata.
“If you recall, we were observing a day of national mourning following the drowning incident where 25 lives were lost in Gwembe, followed by the demise of our Republican President,” Ms Katanga said.
“So when we received a report of Mr Sichilima’s alleged actions, we called him to report at the police station where he was interviewed by officers who then effected an arrest.”
Ms Katanga said it was important for law and order to be maintained at this particular time when the country was grieving over the 25 people that drowned and President Sata’s death.
She said police would not hesitate to enforce the law against those abrogating the dictates of the period of national mourning.