There was a riot in Kitwe this morning following the release of Change Life Zambia executive director Fr Frank Bwalya from custody on bail by a Kitwe magistrate court.
Qfm staffer Robert Banda who is in Kitwe reports that the riot broke up following the release of Fr Bwalya after supporters who had turned up at the court in solidarity resorted to stoning vehicles parked near the court premises.
Kobil filling station which is located near the court has been looted as employees fled for their safety.
The protesters had also set tyres on fire near the court premises and at Kobil filling station.
Police only managed to bring the situation to normal after reinforcements were brought in.
A PF councilor Elias Kamanga who is also PF copperbelt youth vice chairman and 24 other have since been arrested by police in connection with the riot.
Meanwhile Fr Bwalya has been released on a K100,000 bail after pleading not guilty to the charge of conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
Kitwe senior magistrate Mercy Makubale has since set March 31st,2010 as the date for the commencemnt of trial.
According to Copperbelt police commanding officer Antoneil Mutentwa,Fr Bwalya was arrested while distributing red cards for the red card campaign at the venue of Youth Day celebrations.
But Fr Bwalya said he was doing nothing wrong but merely trying to get a lift from someone when police officers pounced on him.
QFM
