Police in Lusaka have charged and arrested Patriotic Front (PF) presidential aspirant Chishimba Kambwili 54 for unlawful assembly.
Mr. Kambwili of Lusaka’s woodlands area, was jointly charged with Charles Kakula for the same offence.
Mr. Kambwili was charged and arrested after being interrogated at Zambia police service headquarters for close to two hours.
Police deputy public relations officer Danny Mwale said this when he addressed journalists in Lusaka yesterday and latter through a press statement.
It is alleged that the two whilst acting together with other unknown persons did unlawful assemble causing other persons to reasonably fear for the breach of public peace,” Mr. Mwale said.
Mr.Mwale said the duo allegedly unlawfully assembled on January 26, 2023, between 08:00 hours and 12:00 hours in Lusaka. He said Mr. Kakula had been in police custody for the past few days.
Mr. Mwale said unlawful assembly was a bondable offence, but that the suspects needed to meet the prescribed conditions before being granted.
Mr. Mwale assured Mr. Kambwili of his safety while in police custody and described the 54-year-old former cabinet minister and ex-roan member of parliaments fear of being poisoned as he was detained as laughable and unusual.
Mr. Kambwili told the media that he had been escorted to a waiting police vehicle around 11:30 hours before he was driven to a hostel in the Balmoral area, which is about 50 kilometers from Lusaka.
Mr. Kambwili said the arrest did not worry him because he was used. “This does not worry us because we already knew what they had planned. I just hope and trust that they are not going to poison me because this is a bailable offence, they have refused to give me police bond and I hope they are not planning to go and poison me,” Mr. Kambwili said.
Mr. Kambwili and Mr. Kakula are detained in police custody awaiting court appearance. Former Zambian ambassador to Ethiopia and PF presidential hopeful Emmanuel Mwamba was among the people offering solidarity to Mr. Kambwili.