. Chanda

By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO and DELPHINE ZULU –

POLICE in Lusaka have arrested three people in connection with the attack on six passengers and smashing windows of a Marcopolo bus recently while armed with assorted weapons.

The three men attacked a Mahogany Marcopolo bus registration number AJC 9324 which was traveling from Livingstone with 48 delegates to the Patriotic Front (PF) general conference in Kabwe and in the process injured six of them.

Police spokesperson Charity Chanda identified the trio as Given Kunda, Joseph Kasoma and Chola Chishimba, all of Lusaka.

The trio has since been charged with malicious damage to property and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and will appear in court today.

The trio intercepted the bus on November 24 and 27, 2014 at the flyover bridge near Kamwala area while driving a Rosa minibus registration number ALP 7559.

“The four passengers on the Rosa minibus were armed with assorted offensive weapons, they disembarked and begun smashing the Marcopolo bus windows leaving six passengers injured,” Ms Chanda said.

Police in Lusaka have also apprehended 15 people in connection with the beating up of a man clad in United Party for National Development (UPND) party regalia and the smashing of two vehicles by criminal elements at the Inter-City bus terminus.

Ms Chanda said the 15 were currently being screened and all those who would be confirmed to have been involved would be arrested and taken to court.

Meanwhile, the police deployed police officers at Lusaka’s intercity bus terminus to restore law and order following the attack on Wednesday.

“Intensive investigations have been instituted and all those who were involved will be arrested and prosecuted in the courts of law,” she said.

Meanwhile, police deputy inspector general, Solomon Jere has said Zambia is not immune to terror attacks and is always on red alert to counter any such activities from reaching its borders.

Dr Jere said terrorism attacks were slowly engulfing the world and that the country was not an exception to the threat.

He said this during the Training of Trainers of Special Forces conducted by the Turkish Police in Lilayi.

“We may not be experiencing terrorism activities in Zambia at the moment but this does not mean that we should sit idle and relax. We need to start preparing ourselves for such eventualities hence the need for this kind of training, which I must admit could not have come at a better time,” he said.

Dr Jere said the country must crack down on issues that threatened the country’s stability and peace by preparing for such eventualities.

He thanked the Turkish government for security training support and urged the grandaunts to impart the skills that they had acquired in other officers.

Turkish Ambassador to Zambia Ahmet Arda urged the officers to uphold the peace and safety the country enjoyed.

He said the delegation from his country had a lot to learn from Zambia the same way Zambia would learn from Turkey.

Turkish Police Service, Chief Superintendent Mustafa Kaya said Zambia had been fortunate not to have experienced the challenges that arose in an event of serious civil strife.

My Kaya said the country should consider looking for a training area and procure new equipment as the current must be replaced.

Lilayi Police College, Divisional Commander Richard Mweene said security was a public good and urged trainees to remain disciplined and dedicated.