afrol News, 6 October - The police in Zambia refuse to release the supporters of the opposition's presidential candidate Michael Sata, leader of Patriotic Front Party, who took to the streets to protest against the results of the country's bitterly-contested fourth multi-party elections.

"All those we picked up in Lusaka [the capital] have been formally arrested and charged with riotous behaviour, and they have to appear in court to answer charges according to the law -there are no two ways about it," police spokesman Bonny Kapeso told the UN media 'IRIN'.

Irate supporters of Mr Sata went on the rampage on the second day of the counting of presidential results on 28 September, when it became clear that President Levy Mwanawasa was at the brink of winning his second and final year term in office.

Members of Mr Sata's party appealed for clemency to be accord to those arrested for looting and other acts of public disorder in the interest of national unity. The vice president of PF, Sakwiba Sikota wondered why the police should continue detaining the protesters after all the President Levy Mwanawasa himself opted for reconciliation with his opponents and that the situation in the country is back to normal.

"Why have a constant reminder of what happened during the just-ended election, which we all know that in fact we won? These prosecutions that the state wants to embark upon will just keep the wounds bleeding and alive - it's time for healing, not for deepening the wounds," said Mr Sikota, who is also a lawyer. He said the prosecution would drain the state's meagre resources, as "it is unlikely that the state will secure a single conviction for any one of these people."

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories