CHIPILI independent member of parliament Jewis Chabi says the Patriotic Front can keep its money while progressive leaders will take away the people from them.

Chabi was arrested by 22 policemen on Wednesday and charged with malicious damage to property for pulling down PF flags at a public station.

He was released yesterday on police bond after spending a night in cells.

“I still maintain that you cannot have a party flag at a public facility like a bus station. It’s unacceptable and we must begin to say no to these things. The PF can boast of having ill-gotten wealth here and there, let them be. They can keep their money, we’ll take away our people,”

said Chabi in an interview with The Mast yesterday after his release. “The PF is forgetting that it was voted for by the people because of the hope they had in the party. It was very popular here in Luapula Province and it got a lot of votes here. But with what is going on, that support is eluding the ruling party.”

He said he would wait for further instructions from the police after his release.

“I wait to hear what they will say. We will go back there on Friday [next week]. All I can say is that I am champion of the people and I will not stop to speak on behalf of our people who give us votes,” said Chabi.

Luapula Province police commissioner Hudson Namachila on Wednesday confirmed Chabi’s arrest for pulling down PF flags, but could not confirm whether the ruling party Chitenges were installed at the bus station or at their offices.