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United Party for National Development (UPND) Lusaka Province Chairperson, Obvious Mwaliteta, has revealed that about 15,000 party youths in Lusaka were ready to travel to Chingola to confront those who attacked President Hakainde Hichilema but were restrained out of respect for the Head of State’s directive for peace.
“Can you imagine over 15,000 youths in Lusaka wanted to travel to Chingola to go and sort out those junkies, but we told them no because the President, who is Commander-in-Chief, had led the way in not giving a directive to sort out those unruly junkies. Buses were ready to go to Chingola, so those junkies should not think we are sitting idle here,” Mwaliteta warned.
He said the youths had shown remarkable restraint despite continuous provocations from the opposition but were “equal to the task” if instructed by the party leadership or the President himself.
Addressing journalists in Lusaka on Monday, Mwaliteta accused the opposition of sponsoring the violence in Chingola, where President Hichilema was pelted with stones while addressing residents at Chiwempala Market.
He alleged that the incident was a deliberate attempt by known individuals to create confusion and attract the President’s attention by burning the market before his visit.
“We are going to ask the President that he gives us space to work during elections in 2026 in order for us to deal with some of these people who have taken advantage that President Hichilema is a peaceful person and has pledged to unite the country at all cost,” he said.
Mwaliteta further warned that if the police fail to guarantee the President’s safety, the ruling party may consider providing its own security for him.
“The party would be left with no choice but to consider providing its own security to the President in order to protect his life like it did during opposition days,” he said.
He also called for the dismissal or resignation of the Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer, accusing him of failing to protect the Head of State, and urged the police to upgrade the charges against the arrested Chingola youths from arson and riotous behaviour to treason.
Meanwhile, police have arrested seven additional suspects, bringing the total number of people detained in connection with the Chingola violence to 12.
Police spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, identified the new suspects as David Musonda, 21; Martin Mutale, 21; Joseph Kanakachana (Silwimba), 20; Blessing Mapalo, 19; James Njobvu, 34; Bwalya Chanda, 50; and Nicholas Kwibisa, 30—all residents of Chingola.
“All the suspects have been detained in police custody and will appear in court soon,” Hamoonga said, adding that investigations were continuing to apprehend other suspects involved in the riot and arson attack.
He reaffirmed the police’s zero tolerance for lawlessness, urging the public to remain calm and assist with information that may lead to further arrests.
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