Clash looms between Kabwe police, residents over load shedding

Clash looms between Kabwe police, residents over load shedding

By Thandizo Banda in Kabwe

A COLLISION is looming in the town of Kabwe between the police and a group of civil rights activists over the right to protest.

Police have denied some Kabwe residents permission to hold a peaceful protest against persistent load shedding in their area and the planned constitutional amendments.

But the organisers have vowed to go ahead even without a police permit because they have the right to protest.

The residents wrote to Kabwe Central Police Station on May 15 to notify government of their intention to demonstrate in the central business district (CBD) of the town.

The letter signed by Teddy Nkunka and seen by The Mast stated that the protest would be non-political, peaceful and in line with the Public Order Act.

However, in a response accessed by The Mast dated May 19, the officer in-charge for Kabwe Central Police Station, Kenneth Nakushowa, said the protest could not go ahead because of a lack of manpower to police it.

“You are therefore, advised not to proceed with your intended protest due to security concerns,” the letter read.

The protest, which was scheduled for June 8, was intended to raise concerns against the prolonged hours of load shedding and unreliable schedules and against the planned Constitution amendments by the United Party for National Development (UPND) government.

The Kabwe residents want government to suspend the export of electricity to some neighbouiring countries and  re direct it towards local consumption.

They are also demanding that constitutional changes be suspended until after the 2026 general elections.

But the notifier of the planned protest, Nkunka, has vowed that the group of over 200 people will go ahead as planned and that no amount of threats by the police would deter them.

“We are ready to be arrested for this noble cause.We will face the police on this one.Why would our government continue treating us like this? On top of [the] hunger they have brought in this country, we are being load shedded for long hours while our neighbours where our electricity is being exported to continue to enjoy the maximum benefits of our power. We’ve had good rains, so what is the problem?,” Nkunka asked.