09/11/2025
THREE MORE SUSPECTS ARRESTED AFTER ATTACK ON HICHILEMA IN CHINGOLA
Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba stated that three more suspects had been arrested, bringing the total number to five, following the previous day's attack on President Hakainde Hichilema in Chingola District, Copperbelt Province.
He confirmed that the Zambia Police Service had informed the nation that on 8th November, 2025 at about 14:50 hours, a riot and arson incident had occurred at Chiwempala Market and Chikola Secondary School grounds in Chingola District, Copperbelt Province.
He said the incident had been reported to Chingola Central Police Station at 15:50 hours by Superintendent Lloyd Kanondo, aged 48 years, a police officer based at Copperbelt Division Headquarters.
Musamba stated that Kanondo had reported that a police motor vehicle, a white Toyota Land Cruiser registration number ZP 2537 B, had been burnt by an irate mob that had turned riotous during the presidential visit.
He explained that the background and sequence of events showed that on the said date, the Republican President and Commander-In-Chief of the Defence Force, Hakainde Hichilema, had visited Chingola District and had been addressing residents at Chiwempala Market.
He said that at about 14:00 hours, while the address was ongoing, some unruly members of the public had begun breaking into shops and looting.
He added that when police officers had intervened to restore order, the crowd had become violent and had started advancing towards the area where the President was addressing the gathering.
Musamba stated that in the interest of security, the President had been immediately whisked away and escorted to the landing pad at Chikola Secondary School grounds.
He noted that the mob had pursued the Presidential motorcade and had continued throwing stones at the vehicles near the helicopter take-off point.
