By Isaac Zulu
John Chalwe Kaume has said that the decision that was taken by police in Kabwe district to arrest and charge him for the offence of conduct likely to cause the breach of peace is aimed at curtailing the freedom of speech and expression by the general citizenry.
And police has said the caller Kaume, who Central Province permanent secretary Milner Mwanakampwe told that the UPND administration was cleaning the poop he and the PF left misbehaved by refusing to cooperate with a police summons.
Kaume recently got into a heated exchange with Mwanakampwe after he reminded him about the UPND promises, something the permanent secretary did not take kindly to and told him that the UPND was busy cleaning the poop that was left behind by PF.
However, information emerged that Kaume was summoned after that heated exchange by the police, something the service has confirmed.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Kaume narrated that just after the radio programme, some UPND cadres went to his shop at Green Market where they demanded to see him, but at the time they went there, he had already gotten information that some UPND cadres were looking for him; alleging that Kaume had insulted “not only the permanent secretary, but also the Head of State.”
He explained that at the time he was being pursued by the UPND cadres and the police, he had already reported the matter to Kasanda Police Station where the permanent secretary issued “strong language against him while on a phone in radio programme.”
“After reporting my case to the Officer in Charge, I was told that there were some UPND cadres that were booked in two Rosa buses, I was assisted by the Officer in Charge,” Kaume said.
He said that while at Kasanda Police Station, he was ushered into some office where he was only told that the UPND cadres have reported a case where he was alleged to have “insulted the Central Province permanent secretary,” and that a formal statement has already been taken from the UPND party members.”
“The unfortunate thing is that the police have only taken a formal statement from the UPND cadres. But they have charged me with an offence of conduct likely to cause the breach of peace. And yet they have not recorded any formal statement from me. For now, I can say that they have arrested me, not detained, but charged for the offence of conduct,” said Kaume.
And speaking with Daily Revelation, Central Province Police Commissioner Roy Kashimba confirmed that the police had arrested Kaume and charged him with the offence of conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
“That person is not in custody. He is not detained. What happened is that he was summoned to police for interviews. And in such a situation we expect you to cooperate, but he started to misbehave and could not cooperate. So he was charged for conduct likely to cause the breach of peace. That’s all,” said Kashimba.
Featuring on Cloud FM radio, Mwanakampwe, in a Bemba dialect, said that development cannot be delivered overnight, like some teeth in a baby.
A caller by the name of Chalwe Kaume called in and told the permanent secretary that the cost of living is high, such that the prevailing economic situation could not allow his family to have dinner the previous night, opting to save the little food for breakfast the next day instead.
Kaume told Mwanakampwe that he was saying that development does not grow overnight like baby teeth, yet his own President and party promised Zambians that once elected, the Kwacha would appreciate against the Dollar overnight, and that people will be buying 15kg bags of mealie meal at K50 and fuel at less than K13 per liter.
“Nomba ba PS, mulelanda ati tafisa nga ameno ya mukanwa. Teimwe mwalelaya. (PS, you are now saying that these things do not come out overnight like teeth). Are you not the ones who were promising)?” Kaume asked.
But before the caller could finish with his question, Mwanakampwe interjected and told him that he and the previous regime left “poop” which he said the UPND government is now cleaning.
“Ba Chalwe, the problem you have is mwanya, after mwanya tulepipa amafi eyo mwanyele and then you want us to (Mr Chalwe, that’s the problem you have. You poop and we are now cleaning your poop),” Mwanakampwe retorted, with he and the caller speaking over each other in heightened voices.
“E problem mwakwata PS, musalula uyo (That is the problem you have PS. That is insulting),” Chalwe shouted back.
“I want him to understand me because,” Mwanakampwe said over the interjection from the interviewer that he was using strong language.
“No, these guys understand strong language. Any other sober language (they won’t understand),” Mwanakampwe continued as the interviewer interjected him with a track.
When reached for comment by Daily Revelation, the Central Province permanent secretary defended his remarks, saying those are just idioms.
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