By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA and
CLIFF PHIRI –

. MUKANGA

TWENTY-ONE suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres on the Copperbelt have been apprehended for alleged unlawful assembly during Saturday’s Youth Day celebrations.
Similarly, some cadres also believed to belong to UPND caused confusion in Kaoma, Western Province, when they allegedly attempted to disrupt Youth Day celebrations where Works and Supply Minister Yamfwa Mukanga was expected to officiate.
In the Copperbelt incident, provincial police commissioner, Charity Katanga said 10 cadres were apprehended in Chililabombwe and the rest in Kalulushi.
Ms Katanga said in an interview yesterday that the cadres in Chililabombwe were apprehended after they allegedly shunned the official Youth Day event, but went ahead to organise their own programme where they conducted a march procession from their offices situated on Tom Mboyo Road without notifying the police.
Ms Katanga said the cadres marched all the way to Kamenza Way and into Chililabombwe Street, where they were intercepted by the police around midday.
“They did not take part in the Youth Day celebrations, but they staged an unlawful procession and they have been charged for unlawful assembly,” Ms Katanga said.
She said those in Kalulushi were apprehended after they defied police advice to disperse as a meeting they were attending was not approved.
In the Kaoma incident, police used teargas canisters when vehicles ferrying the suspected UPND cadres were stopped.
The cadres swarmed the central business district in a convoy of vehicles chanting party slogans as they proceeded to the arena adjacent to Kaoma Prison, where other youths were waiting to be addressed by Mr Mukanga.
When the confusion erupted, some people were injured as they jumped from moving vehicles while others were caught up in the mess.
Some cadres later attempted to throw stones at a new police vehicle recently allocated to Kaoma, but the attack was repelled and in the process one person was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Kaoma Police officer-in-charge James Chitembo, who confirmed the incident, warned that such acts of lawlessness would not be tolerated.
He said the police would continue being impartial and would not tolerate unlawful acts regardless of who was breaking the law.
However, UPND Kaoma District coordinator Kenny Ndumba said it was wrong for the police to act in the manner they did as the UPND youth were only trying to join in the celebrations.
Mr Ndumba, who dispelled assertions that the UPND cadres attempted to block Mr Mukanga, said the opposition party was dismayed that the police prevented the cadres from taking part in the event.