Scores of Police officers in riot gear on Saturday morning camped at Changanamai Grounds to stop the Socialist Party from going ahead with their planned rally.
Earlier this week, Police told the Socialist Party that it couldn’t go ahead with the rally for security reasons and insufficient manpower.
But the party leadership insisted that it would go ahead with the rally.
In reaction, S.P leader Dr. Fred M’membe accused President Hakainde Hichilema of hypocrisy.
“Police who had no manpower to ensure that our rally in Kitwe goes ahead all of a sudden they have manpower to ensure that our rally does not go ahead! This is the hypocrisy and dishonesty of Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his neocolonial puppet regime,” Dr. M’membe said.
“But how far can this take them? Ubucenjeshi bwa nkoko pungwa tasakamana! We have accordingly directed our members and supporters to stay away from Changanamai grounds and let the Police hold their rally there today. Our day to hold a rally there will come,” he said.