Source: Africa Publicity
The Zambia Police Service has confirmed the arrest of five suspects following violent riots and acts of arson that erupted during President Hakainde Hichilema’s visit to Chingola District on November 8, 2025.
In a statement issued by Inspector General of Police Graphel C. Musamba, the police reported that “a riot and arson incident occurred at Chiwempala market and Chikola Secondary School grounds in Chingola District, Copperbelt Province” during the President’s address to residents.
Angry residents threw stones toward the dais where President Hichilema was speaking from.
According to the statement, the situation turned violent when “some unruly members of the public began breaking into shops and looting.” Police officers attempting to restore order were met with aggression as “the crowd became violent and started advancing towards the area where the president was addressing the gathering.”
For security reasons, “the president was immediately whisked away and escorted to the landing pad at Chikola Secondary School grounds,” the statement reads. However, the mob “pursued the Presidential motorcade and continued throwing stones at the vehicles near the helicopter take-off point.”
During the chaos, “a police motor vehicle, Toyota land cruiser registration number ZP 2537 B… was pelted with stones, its windscreen shattered, and later overturned and set ablaze.” Other property belonging to government and private entities was also destroyed, including “the presidential holding tent… one presidential portrait, and one coffee table belonging to the Lusaka provincial maintenance unit.”
Police have since arrested five suspects in connection with the unrest. “In the initial phase of investigations, two (2) suspects were apprehended… Abraham Chilumbu, aged 24 years… and Abraham Sichone, aged 21 years,” said the Inspector General. Both were “charged and detained for arson and are expected to appear in court soon.”
Further investigations led to three more arrests — “James Banda, aged 30 years… Arnold Mbewe, aged 22 years… and Jackson Mbulo, aged 25 years.” All five suspects “have been detained in police custody pending court proceedings.”
Musamba stated that the situation “has since been brought under control, and calm has been restored following the swift response by the police,” adding that reinforcements have been deployed “to maintain law and order and to prevent any further disturbances.”
Issuing a stern warning, the Inspector General said: “The Zambia Police Service wishes to sternly warn all would-be offenders that acts of violence, riotous behavior, and destruction of property will not be tolerated. The police will continue to pursue and arrest anyone found involved in the riot until all perpetrators are brought to book.”
He concluded by appealing for public cooperation, saying, “Peaceful expressions of opinions remain a constitutional right, but violence and lawlessness have no place in our society.”
