TEAR GAS FAILS TO STOP MUNDUBILE-MAKEBI ROADSHOW AS HUNDREDS DEFY POLICE, CHANT ‘WE WANT CHANGE’
…NRPUP leaders accuse police of targeting peaceful supporters as crowds swell across Kalingalinga, Mtendere and Bauleni.
By Simon Muntemba
A peaceful National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) roadshow in Lusaka has turned dramatic after police repeatedly fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse supporters, but determined residents continued following presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu on foot, chanting, “We want change.”
The roadshow, which was scheduled to begin at 13:00 hours from the NRPUP campaign office in Longacres, was delayed after party leaders first travelled to Belvedere Lodge intending to sign the book of condolences for late former Vice-President Guy Scott.
However, the official mourning venue was still being prepared, prompting the team to return and eventually commence the campaign around 15:10 hours.
The convoy proceeded from the Longacres office along Haile Selassie Avenue before joining Alick Nkhata Road towards Kalingalinga.
Long before the campaign vehicles arrived, residents, traders and pupils from nearby schools had lined the streets, waving the party’s lamp symbol and cheering as the convoy passed.
As the campaign entered Alick Nkhata Road, excitement intensified, with scores of residents abandoning their daily activities to join the procession while chanting the names of Mundubile and Makebi.
By the time the convoy reached Kalingalinga Clinic, the crowd had grown significantly, stretching across sections of the road in a peaceful display of support.
The atmosphere changed abruptly when several police vehicles blocked the convoy’s route in Kalingalinga and discharged tear gas canisters in an effort to disperse the supporters. The gas affected not only campaign supporters but also ordinary residents, including elderly women, some of whom fainted amid the confusion.
Despite the disruption, the crowd refused to disperse, instead breaking into louder chants of “We want change” while continuing to follow the opposition leaders.
With their vehicles unable to proceed, Mr Mundubile and Mr Zulu disembarked and continued the campaign on foot alongside the swelling crowd.
Their decision appeared to energise supporters even further as hundreds walked with them through the township.
Police again moved ahead and mounted another blockade on Kamloops Road before firing additional tear gas.
Undeterred, the two leaders altered their route through Helen Kaunda Market towards Mtendere. Yet another police blockade awaited them near Mtendere Market, where more tear gas was fired at residents who had gathered in large numbers hoping to catch a glimpse of the opposition leaders.
Changing direction once more, the campaign moved towards Kalikiliki and Mutendere East, only to encounter another police cordon.
Tear gas was again fired at crowds singing campaign songs and raising the party’s lamp symbol in solidarity.
Some residents openly challenged the officers, shouting that police brutality would not influence how they voted in the August 13 general election.
Determined to continue engaging the public, Mr Mundubile and Mr Zulu diverted through Ibex Hill into Bauleni, where fresh crowds emerged to welcome them.
Police again blocked sections of the route and discharged tear gas, but supporters continued walking with the leaders.
The two later rejoined their campaign vehicles, which had remained stranded near Kalingalinga, before driving back to the Longacres office via Leopard Hill Road.
Along the return route, large crowds escorted the convoy while police officers stationed near the cemetery watched as the procession continued peacefully.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Mundubile condemned the police action, insisting the campaign had remained peaceful and fully compliant with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) campaign calendar.
“Our position is clear. Our campaign is peaceful, lawful and will continue as scheduled under the Electoral Commission of Zambia campaign calendar. We condemn this intimidation and we will not be silenced from exercising our democracy. No amount of intimidation will stop us from taking our message to the people of Zambia,” he said.
Mr Zulu said the conduct of the police was inconsistent with their constitutional responsibility to protect citizens.
“The Police have a duty to protect the citizens of Zambia, not in any way harm them. The ECZ calendar says we are supposed to campaign in Lusaka, and campaign we shall. No amount of police brutality and tear-gassing will stop us. We came in peace to meet the people. We were met with tear gas. Yet our commitment to a peaceful, democratic Zambia remains unwavering. The people deserve to be heard,” he said.
The roadshow formed part of NRPUP’s campaign programme covering several Lusaka constituencies, including Roma, Munali, Lusaka Central, Kabwata and Chawama, ahead of the August 13 general election.
TEAR GAS FAILS TO STOP MUNDUBILE-MAKEBI ROADSHOW AS HUNDREDS DEFY POLICE, CHANT ‘WE WANT CHANGE’
