More than 30 Solwezi residents arrested following two separate riots today
More than 30 Solwezi residents have been arrested following the riots that broke-out in Kyawama compound after police vehicle hit and killed a 13-year girl this morning.
Another riot was by the same time taking place in the same town at Solwezi Techical school where pupils rioted against dirty on their premises.
Sources say the residents are tonight mobilizing to release their arrested colleagues because they feel the police have been too brutal with them.
Zambia News and information Service (Zanis) reports that Kyawama compound residents in Solwezi today ran amok and smashed windows at a local police station as they protested over the death of a 13-year-old girl who was hit by a police vehicle.
The protesting residents also smashed windscreens of private vehicles that were packed at the police station.
North Western Province Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Achume confirmed the death of the girl, identified as Lister Kajhilambinga of highland residential area in Kyawama compound.
Mr Achume said the girl was hit by a police vehicle registration number ZP 2164B as she ran across the road while the vehicle was approaching.
The accident happened at 07.50 this morning sparking protests from residents.
The deputy police commissioner said at least six vehicles which were parked at the Kyawama police station had their wind screens smashed.
A ZANIS news crew that rushed to Kyawama compound found the residents had blocked the Independence-Mutanda road with wooden planks and ZESCO poles which they had set on fire.
By pres time, Police were still fighting running battles with residents in a see-saw fashion with a huge crowd of angry residents throwing stones and carrying sticks pushing police backwards at instances while police also retaliated by firing warning live bullets and teargas canisters.
Mr Achume said police are in the process of beefing up its manpower to calm the situation.
At Solwezi Technical School pupils looted nearby shops and demanded good sanitation and hygiene.
District Education Board Secretary Fredrick Munkini said the supply of water to the school by North Western Water and Sewerage Company has been erratic.
Mr Munkini explained that the problem at the school has been compounded by the power supply outages that Solwezi district has been experiencing in the last few weeks.
‘Fire burning in the one way road is on right now. I have failed to take pictures due to heavy
riots and no vehicle is passing through coming to town from Lumwana-Mwinilunga, Kasempa Mufumbwe road or going out through the same road. The situation is tense,’ said one person caught in the riots.
People also took advantage to even loot some shops saying they had no mealie meal and the PF regime has started killing them deliberately.
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31 Responses to More than 30 Solwezi residents arrested following two separate riots today
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Not to shift people’s attention from this equally important item. Please allow me to register my disappointment, I have just arrived from Copperbelt the road between Chingola and Solwezi is in bad state. Something should be done quickly to arrest any possible accidents especially that traffic has indeed increased between the two towns. This town (Solwezi)is contributing to much from taxes raised from the mining companies, why should it be neglected.
Mutale - March 6, 2013
16:12
SATA’S REGIME IS CURSED! ALWAYS ODD THINGS HAPPEN EVER SINCE THIS SATANIST ASCENDED INTO POWER. WE SERIOUSLY NEED TO PRAY FOR MOTHER ZAMBIA.
COONDE - March 6, 2013
14:27
Only after street vending is reduced will these accidents cease.Honestly how do you expect to avoid accidents with that environment?
Peggy Muleya - March 6, 2013
14:02
in five years time she could have been my girlfriend…nöw shes gone for göød. R.I.P
BRIGADIER GENERAL MASIPA HAO - March 6, 2013
12:57
If you employ cadres in the police force, that is what you expect. Some of those boys employed by PF do not know how to drive even. PF has brought us a lot of challenges. Who told you that you can recruit the whole lot of Bemba clan to run Zambia. Sata is a complete nuisense and will drive Zambia bananas.
Rusco - March 6, 2013
07:36
Too bad we have lost a young girl?
emms - March 6, 2013
06:59
The country has been become violent during Sata’s reign.
Bread - March 6, 2013
06:55
The driver of the vehicle, a policeman, reversed to finish off the girl who was gasping for her life.This incesed the on lookers and ear witnesses. It can be an accident but you need to read the mood and inviroment. You can not kill a human being by running over twice inluding conscience reversing.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - March 6, 2013
06:06
in chingola, a 9yrs years old comitted suicide which shocked the residents of chabanyama township
chishala - March 6, 2013
01:36
u hopeless idiots have no brains,those police work for you, weather pf or not.an accident is an accident.
eugine mwambila - March 5, 2013
23:13
one think u should understand is that what are doing about police driver who after hitting the girl reversed back to the still alive girl crashing her and further skidded on her as he sped away. this driver is evil
ilu sim - March 6, 2013
06:08
u and yo president and party pesistant failures are useful idiots how dare u call us idiots let me tell u that u are a disgrace to our country.that police officer should know that kyawama is a populated area were he shld drive at 20km/hr.we are not yet finished just wai we are coming.
poko ya kayombo kakutemba - March 6, 2013
08:39
Zambia is locked with occurences of tragedies. People dying mysteriously especially the past 15 months.
Muntu Na Muntu - March 5, 2013
21:12
Pliz pipo it was an accident
odyankumbu - March 5, 2013
21:04
What hapened @ SOLTECH is true coz i stay oposite the the skul and the blocked the road leading to kansanshi mine 4 @least 30min..buses fering minerz wer stuck.
kongwe - March 5, 2013
20:19
pf police killed the girl deliberately..arrest that chap..people are so hurt..very mad at the way the country is being run!!
mumbwe - March 5, 2013
19:55
Very serious allegation! If there is any credible evidence of this I say some needs to get the death penalty! She was only 13, what a tragedy!
wonderer - March 5, 2013
20:33
What happened in Kyawana is purely political discontent being experienced in this province. The Northwesterners are being daylight robbed of there resource which is a sad developed. It is said also to learn that Masumba who was minister for about 3 months was lodging at loyal Solwezi walloping KR1000 per day with 5 inchmen meaning was wasting KR5000 per day whilst the province has got a ministerial house which was and is vacant. It is a sad development indeed for our own people doing this to us. This is the most corrupt govt ever.
Barbedwire - March 5, 2013
19:47
What’s wrong for the minister lodging at royal solwezi. Who told yu that the hotel is only ment for whites. Don’t bring petty issues here. Contribute positively stanyoko
mwamba mutale - March 6, 2013
06:51
There is everything wrong. CNP is always moving ministers and PSs from one place to another at the expense of development because of the huge sums of money involved in relocating these people. we are talking about how careless this govt is on resource mgt, KR5000 per day times 30 days is how much? And he is not the only one, there are several other ministers and PSs who are trotting from one province/district to another being accommodated in lodges before they can find them alternative accommodation, if at all they stay long enough there.
Zganga - March 6, 2013
08:50
the girl was hit by police car,it was an accident,i doubt if any human being would want to killed a poor girl deliberate,more over its a policeman,this has nothing to do with Pf goernment,and why should stupid people start smashing cars for inocent people?zambians this is stupid ,stop this behaviour now
mopao - March 5, 2013
19:45
Satanism has envaded our peaceful country am just wondering who brought it on a large scale. Its becoming like middle east all coz of rubish greed of some self infatuated bastards.u
kanks - March 5, 2013
19:44
Its really sad
Harrison - March 5, 2013
19:41
very sad development,lets not blme the police or government over accedents.nobody prepares for an accident to happen.its an unfortunetly that life has lost,bt residence shoud not take law into their own hands.
phiri gabriel - March 5, 2013
19:39
Zambians pointing fingers won’t solve anything at all just pray for your own safety these are the senstive days the bible has in revelations look at Last year starting september it was a shock if the 7pm news didn’t annonce death we looked at it simple there came this year still carrying a theme death and confusion
kanks - March 5, 2013
19:37
Its unfortunate the gul past away. However, its not right to blame govt on the mistakes of an individual cop which resulted in the com rising against de police. The building being damaged was constructed at a high cost and it may not be today for funds to b found to renovate it again. Plus a leaf fr the happenings in garden comp of lsk where pipo are now crying for the same structure they damaged. God pliz intervene!!.
Harrison - March 5, 2013
19:37
We need to protest for the govt the way they have neglected our province. We need to tell the mines and the govt to tar all the roads. And: put up a university. Failure to that no copper should be allowed to leave northwest province . Once we do this things will work out.
ak - March 5, 2013
19:36
THATS TRUE AK, I V WORKED IN SLZ 4 DE PAST 16MTHS,AM ALSO 4ROM NW IT PAINS NO DEVELOPMENT BUT KRBILLIONS OF COPPER,, GOING ON THE WORST ROAD IN THE WORLD SHAME.DONT GOVT OFFICIALS C MITEC JUNCTION FOR EXAMPLE.
kennedy.kadochi - March 6, 2013
11:21
WHAT HAPPENED IN KIYAWAMA VERY TRUE BUT SOLTEC STORY NOT TRUE YES THE SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LACK OF WATER BUT NO LOOTONG TOOK PLACE
sol - March 5, 2013
19:28
And namulambe says he is happy in pf.
daddie - March 5, 2013
19:17
These are characteristics of a failed state.
You can deny it but reality remains reality!
The government MUST stop burying their heads in the sand!
Zambia is at the cross-roads!
Mubanga - March 5, 2013
19:10