OVER 30 Muchinga police officers yesterday broke into Socialist Party 2021 candidate Dr Fred M’membe’s Chinsali house bringing down all ornaments.

The motive for the action was not immediately known.

According to workers at the house, the officers arrived in three vehicles, one of them a Muchinga Police Land Cruiser, and jumped over the perimeter wall to gain access.

The worker said the officers broke the lock to M’membe’s house to gain entry and started removing the curved ornaments.

“They have not arrested anyone. We don’t know what they are doing inside the house. They just came and chased us,” one of the security guards told The Mast. “They have grabbed household items including paintings. They are in uniforms but behaving like cadres. We’ve never seen such kind of behaviour.”

Muchinga Police commissioner Joel Njase said he was in Muyombe and would get details today when he returns to Chinsali.

“I am in Muyombe right now, I can’t comment,” Njase said adding that he did not want to be misquoted.

Asked if he was aware of the operation, Njase said, “I have told you I don’t want to start commenting…let me comment when I am back in the office.”

Dr M’membe’s running mate Dr Cosmas Musumali confirmed that about thirty people dressed in police uniforms yesterday afternoon raided the home in Mwika Village in Shiwangandu district.

“They broke the gate to the house and forcibly chased all people present. No search or arrest warrant was provided. They have currently occupied the house and are not stating the reason for their action. Onlookers are suggesting that the house is being vandalised. Dr. Fred M’membe was at the time addressing a rally at Nsansa grounds in Kitwe,” said Dr Musumali.

Home affairs minister and Shiwangandu member of parliament Stephen Kampyongo said “Sorry, I can’t talk right now.”