Police raid lodge, arrest 16 Tonse members in Kalulushi
By a Correspondent
POLICE on the Copperbelt have arrested 16 Tonse Alliance members for unlawful assembly after officers raided a lodge in Kalulushi and discovered them locked inside a room while allegedly holding a political meeting.
Copperbelt Province Commissioner of Police Mwala Yuyi confirmed that officers descended on Emerald Guest House in Kalulushi District on Saturday after receiving a tip-off that a group suspected to be Tonse Alliance members were meeting on the premises.
Yuyi said police officers found three vehicles parked outside the lodge and a cleaner directed them to a room where the meeting was underway after being asked about the owners of the vehicles.
“We knocked and found them having a meeting. The room was locked when police arrived and after knocking, the door was opened, and 16 people were inside,” Yuyi said.
He said during subsequent interviews, some suspects claimed they had gathered for a meeting about silk, while others admitted it was a Tonse Alliance meeting convened to prepare for Women’s Day celebrations.
Yuyi said the gathering was held without prior notification to the police as required by law, which made it an unlawful assembly.
“We have 16 Tonse Alliance members in our custody for unlawful assembly. They have since been formally arrested and will appear in court soon,” he said.
