Police in Kabwe have arrested eight Patriotic Front officials and cadres who stormed Power FM on April 30 and stopped a radio programme which was featuring NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili.

Among those arrested are immediate past Kabwe Mayor Richard Bango, who is also Kabwe District PF Chairperson, PF Kawama ward Councillor, Lackson Mafoko, who is also Kabwe District Youth Chairperson and PF Kaputula ward Councilor Hamphrey Mukuka who is also Kabwe Central Constituency Youth Chairperson.

Confirming the development in an interview with News Diggers! Central Province Police Commissioner Chola Katanga said the trio were arrested for criminal trespass and malicious damage to property.

“I wish to confirm that Kabwe Central Police Station is holding three PF officials, namely; Richard Bango and councilors Lackson Mafoko and Humphrey Mukuka. The three are being held in connection with an incident which happened on 30th April this year at Power FM station where suspected cadres stormed Power FM studio where an NDC official was on a live programme. Arising from this, the radio station reported the case of criminal trespass and malicious damage to property which the police have been investigating,” Katanga said.

Katanga said police also arrested five PF cadres in connection to the same.

“In addition to these three that we have arrested today, we also arrested five suspected PF cadres over the weekend. The eight are expected to appear in court soon,” he said.

And on the beating of Kabwe Municipal Council workers by PF cadres at the civic centre during President Edgar Lungu’s three-day state visit to Kabwe in March, the Police Commissioner said investigations were still ongoing.

“On the issue of the council workers were beaten by suspected PF cadres, no arrests have been made. The situation is that those involved have not been forthcoming more or less. In other words, they have not yet brought their medical reports and so on and so forth. But the investigations are still ongoing,” said Katanga.