Police in Petauke District in Eastern Province have arrested and charged 14 UPND members with unlawful assembly.

This was after the 14, who are former PF Petauke District officials led by the former Chairman Stanford Mwanza gathered to defect to the UPND yesterday in Petauke.

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According to information reaching Phoenix News, the resignation of the former officials has not sat well with the PF Provincial Leadership that has sanctioned the illegal arrests.

Meanwhile, the Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services –GEARS- Initiative- says the arrest of opposition supporters in Eastern Province vindicates those that opposed to the implementation of National Dialogue Forum proposal to reduce the campaign period from 90 to 60 days.

GEARS Initiative Zambia Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi tells Phoenix News that this is because the canvassing and mobilization of voters is skewed towards the party in power and those associated with it while those in opposition are being curtailed.

Mr. Chipenzi has since demanded for the immediate release of the arrested people and allow all partisans to exercise their Constitutional rights of association and assembly.

But when reached for a comment, Eastern Province Police Commissioner, Luckson Sakala said he is not aware about the arrests as he is out of the province attending a workshop.
PHOENIX NEWS