SIXTEEN Tonse Alliance members have been arrested by police after being found locked in a room at a lodge while holding a meeting in Kalulushi.
The 16 were discovered in a room at Emerald Guest House in Kalulushi.
Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mr Mwala Yuyi said the group was picked up and charged with unlawful assembly.
He said the incident occurred on Saturday, February 21, 2026, after police received information about a meeting at the guest house suspected to involve Tonse Alliance members.
Mr Yuyi said police rushed to the scene and found three vehicles parked at the lodge.
“When a cleaner was asked about the whereabouts of the vehicle owners, he directed police to a room where the meeting was taking place,” he said.
Mr Yuyi said the room was locked when police arrived.
He said after knocking, the door was opened, revealing 16 people inside.
“During interviews, some said it was a meeting for silk, while others confirmed it was a Tonse Alliance meeting preparing for Women’s Day celebrations,” Mr Yuyi said.
He added that the 16 were detained in police cells for unlawful assembly, as they had no prior notification of the gathering.
Mr Yuyi said the 16 have since been formally arrested.
(Mwebantu, Sunday, 22nd Februray, 2026)
“If you elect me as president, I will abolish the draconian law of unlawful assembly. What is the government afraid of? Only dictators forbid freedom of assembly. And such leadership should be voted out” – Hakainde Hichilema in 2021.
REJECT TRIBALISM, CORRUPTION AND OPPRESSION.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN AUGUST.
#MUNYAULE DEALER WA GOLD.
The right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by Article 21 of the Zambian Constitution, but it is heavily regulated by the
Public Order Act (Chapter 113), which requires five days’ written notice to police for public meetings or processions. Police can restrict or disperse assemblies that risk public disorder,, threaten safety, obstruct traffic, or occur in restricted areas.
Leave these people alone.How do you arrest 16 people meeting? Officers stop embarrassing us pls.Allocate time and concentrate efforts to apprehend the thieves responsible for the murder of the filling station attendant and the Yango driver..As long as they are not intending to commit acts of violence or theft. Allow them to exist as they are, and they will continue to be unsuccessful. Let them gather wherever and whenever they choose; it is a free world, and they have the right to do so.The era of colonial regulations and legislation has passed; we are now in a new age.Am not Tonse team but let them be
Why not apply for a permit to hold a meeting?
We’re they going to be arrested if there were 16 upnd members?
This is uncalled for!
What number of people can break this law?
Sixteen is not big.
We need to get rid of some of these draconian retrogressive laws. I expected much from UPND govt. Arrest of those 16 opposition Tonse members is nonsensical!!!
It is a simple thing to do, ask and you shall be given, seek and you shall find.
But people just want to be at variance with the law to find fault in the government. It is a different thing if police were informed and people were arrested.
Umwana teti atile abafyashi babi ngachakutila apula ifunde lyapanganda elyo bamufulula.
Ayo malibu yakuilombela bane.
The police should occupy themselves with more meaningful tasks. This was not a rally nor was there any risk of public disorder.
The arrests are totally uncalled for.
Stop arresting people arbitrarily, what type of laws are these. At a hotel?
Groups of people such as ngo, banks, and many other, do they have police notices to meet at hotels or logdes , useless laws, scrap them now
Why blame the Police They are just following the law. The law is the law. In fact, UPND did make the law. Have we forgotten how the opposition was terrorized during the era of misrule?
Instead of blaming the police, lobby to remove the law on the Assembly period.
The right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by Article 21 of the Zambian Constitution, but it is heavily regulated by the
Public Order Act (Chapter 113), which requires five days’ written notice to police for public meetings or processions. Police can restrict or disperse assemblies that risk public disorder,, threaten safety, obstruct traffic, or occur in restricted areas.
UPND is then also to blame for not quickly working towards removing this law. They felt the bad end of this law, yet they have comfortably sat on it for 5 years benefiting from its wrath as if it’s not yesterday they were victims. Let’s be progressive in both economic & political matters. The progress made on the economic front gets overshadowed by such nonsense. These are the things that made ECL and PF unpopular with the voters. All of a sudden, there is UPND amnesia regarding Chipata airport incidence. All majority Zambians want is fair politics.
Police please beat those thugs the hell out of them. Why didn’t they follow the right chanel. Shot cuts are dangerous. We should practice clean politics and not the dirty way. Opposition enjoy breaking laws and found wanting they claim victimisation.