ALLIANCE for Better Zambia
(ABZ) leader Frank Bwalya has been arrested in Kasama for allegedly
defaming Republican President Michael Sata.
Police in the Northern
Province headquarters yesterday had a tough time in shielding the
outspoken Father Bwalya from some irate Patriotic Front (PF) members who
wanted to lynch him for allegedly using disparaging remarks against the
President.
The Catholic
priest-turned-politician allegedly made the defamatory remarks during a
live programme on Radio Mano which attracted the anger of the PF members
who stormed the station ready to pounce on him.
Fr Bwalya was only saved by
paramilitary police officers who quickly surrounded the radio station
with some of the officers jumping over the perimeter fence.
The PF members who had entered the studio demanded that Radio Mano staff release the former cleric who was inside the station.
Police cordoned off the
station and escorted Fr Bwalya, who was found seated in the studio
talking on his mobile phone, to a waiting police car.
The ABZ president walked
from the radio station to angry chants of PF members who asked why he
had travelled to the district to attack the President instead of telling
Kasama residents what his party had to offer.
Northern Province Police Chief Mary Chikwanda confirmed the arrest and said the opposition leader would appear in court soon.
Fr Bwalya was detained at Kasama Central Police Station after being interrogated for close to three hours.
During the radio programme,
which was cut short by the confusion, Fr Bwalya said the Government had
no jurisdiction over the Bemba Traditional Council, and made
parable-like statements in Bemba disparaging Mr Sata’s style of
leadership.
Some MMD provincial leaders rushed to the
police station while police were recording a warn-and-caution statement
in a show of solidarity.