The Zambia Police on Wednesday harassed sports journalists that were covering a closed door friendly match between Chipolopolo and a Division One North side Nkwiza at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
According to bolazambia.com, the journalists who had found their way into the match venue were fished out by police officers on the pretext they were recording the match on video for distribution. Zambia defeated Nkwiza 2-1 with striker Collins Mbesuma and Jacob Mulenga on target.
The journalists that had perched themselves in the terraces were shepherded to the police post downstairs where they were ordered to take off their shoes and surrender their gadgets which included laptops and mobile phones.
The police officers accused the journalists of filming the match for possible circulation of the footage.
However, after frantic phone calls and consultation the police officers released the journalists who were escorted out by a uniformed police officer. Scribes who had found their way at the venue were chucked out just after the Division One outfit equalized with police officers moving to fish out the journalists.
The affected journalists were Darious Kapembwa from The Post Newspapers, Kalumiana Kalumiana (MTNFOOTBALL.COM), Francis Alisheke (Zambianfootball.co.zm) and Sydney Mungala (bolazambia.com).
Last week, police at Lusaka’s Manda Hill ignominiously took cover when important national duty of protecting a citizen that was trailed by bandits up to the police station was robbed in a dramatic daylight scene.
Meanwhile, Zambia continued their build up for Saturday’s Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho with a practice match that saw them edge Division One North side Nkwiza 2-1 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium during a closed door match.
Herve Renard started with Red Arrows goalkeeper Danny Munyao between the sticks with Emmanuel Mbola and Joseph Musonda deployed on the left and right back positions respectively.
Khondwani Mtonga and Davies Nkausu were partnered at the heart of defence and Nathan Sinkala took his usual position at the heart of midfield where he was joined by Mukuka Mulenga.
Skipper Chritopher Katongo and Fwayo Tembo took wings with Collins Mbesuma and Jacob Mulenga twinned upfront.
Mbesuma, who seems to be the man favoured to lead the frontline, did justice to his credentials by nodding a Fwayo Tembo corner in the first half but Nkwiza replied through a Francis Mulenga penalty. Emmanuel Mayuka wound up business for the Chipolopolo with his second half goal.
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