Four United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters have pleaded not guilty to a charge of being in possession of offensive weapons and materials.

Remmy Mukoba and three others denied the allegations before Lusaka Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya today.

They are accused of being in possession of one plastic bottle of glycerine,two plastic bottles of potassium Pamanganette,one bow and three arrows.

The accused took plea after the court received a consent to prosecute the accused from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“Now therefore I Lillian Siyuni SC,Director of Public Prosecutions for the Republic of Zambia pursuant to the powers vested in me by section 85(3) of the Penal Code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia do hereby authorise the prosecution Remmy Mukoba,Kelvin Mwansa Mupulisa,Fabian Mwanza Lubona and Martin Muchindu for the offence of being in possession of offensive weapons or materials,” read Siyuni’s consent.

And magistrate Munyinya has reserved ruling to July 12 ,2017 on whether or not Gershom Mwila, the criminal investigations officer from Kabwata police station should be cited for contempt of court after disobeying a court order to issue all the accused persons with medical reports within 48 hours.

An order to issue medical reports was issued on May 19, 2017 but it was not adhered to as the police officer kept on tossing the acussed from Kabwata police station to force headquarters for the medical reports.

Meanwhile state witnesses have failed to show up in a matter in which William Banda and nine others are charged with obstruction of police officers from arresting Hichilema.

The officers have also not complied with the court order of returning the property that was grabbed from the accused during the raid.

The matter comes up on July 27, 2017.