By Agness Changala
Opposition Political Parties have postponed the ‘Save Zambia Mass Rally’ that was scheduled to take place in Kitwe this Saturday, December 09, 2023, to mourn with the affected families on the Copperbelt following a tragedy at the Seseli Mine accident in Chingola.
And the police in a letter dated December 4, 2023, have stated that they were not going to allow the opposition to go ahead with the planned rally due to the security situation in Riverside and Kitwe due to small scale mining youths are feared dead in Chingola.
In their cancellation statement dated December 5, 2023, the Opposition Political Party leadership stated that it was deeply saddened by the tragic death of the miners.
“We mourn with the bereaved families,” read the notice in part. “Again, we wish to express our sympathy on this tragic accident at Seseli Mine and pray for the bereaved families for God’s strength on the loss of lives. We shall revisit our notification to the police in due course to hold the joint opposition political party ‘Save Zambia’ Mass Rally on the Copperbelt and later on, other parts of the country in the coming year as part of our continued collaborative efforts to offer alternative policies to the electorates,” they stated.
And one of the organizing committee members Saboi Imboela said, “We are okay with the reasons the police have given because that’s exactly what we gave in our cancellation statement.”
Imboela said although the tragedy has happened in Chingola, it affects everyone on the Copperbelt and Zambia.
“Some miners were staying in Kitwe and what happens in one town affects everybody else. Copperbelt is mourning and it’s logical that we call off any meeting or political activity in the province,” she stated.
She also said the opposition will mobilize and visit the affected families and offer their support.
Imboela also offered condolences to President Hakainde Hichilema and Chingola member of parliament Chipoka Mulenga saying this is a national tragedy.
And in a letter dated December 4, 2023, the police stated that because of what had happened in Chingola, Kitwe officers were also fully involved in the ongoing rescue/recovery operations on site.
It stated that the tragedy has affected the communities of Kitwe too, bearing in mind that some victims are believed to be from Kitwe townships.
“In other words, Kitwe communities are grieving too to host such a public meeting. Under the circumstances, the planned rally should not go ahead. Instead you engage in dialogue with the Zambia Police at the earliest convenient time to set an alternative date for the said rally, preferably next year (2024),” stated police.
