Kitwe council apprehends 44 street children in night operation

Kitwe City Council Police have apprehended 44 street children during a joint enforcement exercise.

Council Public Relations Officer, Mwaka Nakweti, said in a statement on Friday that the intensified operations were conducted in collaboration with the Public Health Department and Zambia Police to restore order, safety, and cleanliness in the city.

“The operation, which ran from 22:00 hours to 02:00 hours on Thursday and Friday, led to the apprehension of 44 street children,” Nakweti said.

She added that the Council would actively trace the parents or guardians of the minors, who will face prosecution for negligence once identified.

In the same operation, two suspected sex workers were also apprehended.

Additionally, Nakweti said an individual identified as Chitimba Fwalanga Mwila was apprehended in Miseshi for burning waste, an offence under the Solid Waste Regulation and Management Act of 2018.

“In a separate enforcement exercise earlier in the week, Council Police, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, apprehended two individuals for illegal waste dumping near the Modern Market area in Ndeke,” she said.

The offenders, identified as Eeness Yoona and Mete Chipapa, both of Ndeke Township, were each fined K1,000 for contravening the Local Government (Street Vending and Nuisances) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations of 2018, the Public Health Act Cap 295, and the Solid Waste Regulation and Management Act of 2018.

Nakweti said the local authority remained deeply concerned about the continued indiscriminate disposal of waste in the district, warning that such practices posed a serious risk to public health and the environment.

“All residential and commercial properties are reminded that subscribing to a licensed waste collection service is a legal requirement under the Solid Waste Regulation and Management Act of 2018.

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