Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga says NDC national youth chair Charles Kabwita was arrested and charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of peace for calling Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and his colleagues thieves.

In an interview, Katanga also refuted reports that Kabwita was beaten by PF cadres before being detained.

“According to the information that I have received here, today 24th February 2018 between 12:00 hours and 13:00 hours, Charles Kabwita, 33 of house number 105 Freedom Way, Nkana East conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace. Between 12 and 13:00 hours at Frimols restaurant in Nkana East, at the same restaurant where he went, there was honorable Kampyongo, [Presidential Affairs Minister] Freedom Sikazwe, [National Planning Minister] honorable Alex Chiteme, Copperbelt provincial chairman Mr Kainga who were having lunch among others. So the suspect went there and told the PF members that they are not supposed to eat from the dirty restaurant as they have money they steal. Instead they are supposed to be going to eat from Edinburgh Hotel. So this incensed the members that were there and they almost manhandled him but police moved in swiftly and whisked him away and detailed him at Nkana East for conduct likely to cause breach of the peace where he is currently detained,” Katanga said.

Asked if Kabwita was assaulted by PF cadres, Katanga said she had sent someone to check on him and he had no injuries.

Meanwhile, NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili visited Kabwita yesterday.

On Saturday, the NDC media team charged that Kampyongo ordered police to arrest Kabwita adding that he was assaulted by PF cadres.

“National Democratic Congress NDC leader Charles Kabwita has been detained by state police in Kitwe. Mr. Kabwita has also been allegedly assaulted by Pf thugs. State police are refusing Mr Kabwita to access medical attention. According to our party Stewart’s in Kitwe, Mr Kabwita has been detained on the instructions of Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo. The detention of Mr Kabwita is purely political persecution. NDC has been reliably informed that Minister kampyongo accosted Mr Kabwita at a public gathering in Kitwe today. Mr Kampyongo was in the company of Mines Minister Richard Musukwa and National Planning Minister Alexander Chiteme,” read the statement.

“According to initial reports, Hon. Stephen Kampyongo had complained to Mr Kabwita that the NDC was causing sleepless nights for the PF. Before our National youth chairman could respond, he was attacked by pf cadres. It was at that point that Kampyongo then ordered state police to arrest and detain comrade Kabwita. As NDC will want to express our dismay at the continued harassment of our leader’s. Zambia is slowly drifting into a dictatorship and police state.
As NDC, we are ready to meet the Pf and state police in the courts of law.”