UPND Youths Demand Release For Wrongly Arrested Charcoal Traders

Young members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) in Lusaka Province have demanded the release of 30 Chongwe residents who were arrested last Thursday for selling charcoal, even though they had the proper papers. 

UPND youths say the Chongwe arrests are a classic example of trumped up charges created by the police under the influence of the Patriotic Front (PF) government. 

“Under this regime, many citizens have been subjected to these and many different kinds of trumped-up charges. How can one order an arrest of residents who are merely trying to survive under the harsh conditions that the same PF have brought since they took power? What is surprising is that these residents have valid papers allowing them to trade in Charcoal business. Why arrest them?” Youth leaders said. 

The matter was brought before Chongwe magistrate’s court yesterday, however witnesses were shocked to see the judge refuse to grant bail. 

Despite the traders providing the court with traceable references, the judge said he could not grant bail to defendants in so many different locations. The traders have since been taken to Kamwala remand prison. 

UPND youths are now calling for a properly independent judiciary to be installed in Zambia, as well as a police service free from political interference. 

Isidore Tetamashimba, an aspiring candidate for Mandevu constituency in this summer’s elections, accompanied the youths to court and provided food for all those imprisoned on remand.