Teenage Gangs S.O.D. and Tokota Boys Terrorise Kitwe

The scene at Mukuba Mall on New Year's Eve

By Paul Shalala

It was a New Year’s Eve like no other.

From a night that most had planned to be a memorable one, the night turned bloody for many unfortunate ones.

And this was all on account of two of Kitwe’s most notorious gangs battling for  supremacy on that night.

In Ndeke and other surrounding areas, a gang of teenagers called the Tokota Boys terrorises residents at night.

And in Kwacha, Buchi and Kamitondo areas, another gang of teenagers calling themselves Sons of the Devil or SOD, in in charge there.

And these two gangs clashed at Mukuba Mall during the count-down to the New Year.

And the result was injuries, broken down bottles and hundreds of people scampering in all directions.

The Tokota Boys, who were in large numbers, possibly 30, easily fought off SOD who were less in number.

The showdown only took about three minutes and after defeating the other gang, the Tokota Boys walked round the mall in celebration.

The SOD disappeared for the rest of the night.

Police Officers in full riot gear came on the scene 10 minutes after the situation returned to normal.

This is not the first time teenage gangs are terrorising residents of Kitwe.

All these years, these unemployed youths have been a nuisance.

In late 2015, 16 SOD gang members were arrested and prosecuted.

This was after the group went on rampage beating and killing people.

The group was also suspected of having killed a security guard at one of the schools in Kamitondo.

It was in this same period when Kitwe witnessed a spate of break-ins at schools were dozens of computers were stolen, leaving pupils without aides for their ICT lessons.

All of them were found guilty, but because they were in examination classes, the Magistrate decided to give them suspended sentences so they could write Grade seven and nine examinations.

But two years down the line, 'the Sons Of the Devil' are at it again.

According to some observers, teenage gangs in Kitwe are increasing due to unemployment and abuse of alcohol and drugs.

Back to New Year Eve celebrations at Mukuba Mall, teenagers took over the show, drinking and dancing the night away.

It was disheartening to see teenage girls drunk and indecently dressed.

Boys too were in such state, drunk and shouting unprintables.

Elsewhere in Kitwe, night clubs were filled to capacity as people counted down to the New Year.

In Nkana East, people were having a nice time and the menu on the table was mostly beer.

But for the religious, it was a time to reflect.

Saint Margaret’s Congregation of the United Church of Zambia was filled to capacity.

"God cannot allow you to cross into 2018 if you have no purpose. He has a purpose for you, so be responsible in the New Year," said Reverend Freda Kamana during her sermon on that night.

Whether at the night club, at Mukuba Mall or in church, Kitwe residents did not sleep until they had crossed over into 2018 in their own way.

And in the end, 45 people were arrested across Kitwe on New Year’s Eve for conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

"Most of the people arrested paid admission of guilty fines and have been released. Some are still being held in custody," said Copperbelt Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga in a telephone interview.

Hundreds Of Kitwe Youths May Be Defranchised In 2016 Elections

By Paul Shalala

ECZ Chairperson Esau Chulu being registered as a voter

Hundreds of young people in Kitwe are being turned away by voter registration officers when they show up at registration centers to register as voters.

The youths, who think that the officers are issuing both National Registration Cards (NRCs) and voters cards, may be defranchised next year during the general elections.

The on-going voter registration exercise which started on September 14 and closes on November 11 this year, is capturing new voters and replacing damaged or lost voters cards.

In some areas, this exercise is going hand in hand with the mobile issuance of National Registration Cards.

But on the Copperbelt, the mobile issuance of NRCs is yet to start and hundreds of potential young voters are being turned away at registration centers for not having NRCs.

Government has grouped provinces to receive mobile NRC teams in phases.

In Buchi ward, potential first time voters have been left out.

"Here in Buchi we have a challenge. Young people are eager to vote but they have no NRCs. They have been coming to Buchi Hall thinking they are also giving NRCs but they are being turned away," said Buchi Ward Councillor Bibian Nyeleti who was found at the registration center.

In neighbouring Lubuto ward, the situation is the same.

"There has not been much publicity about voters' cards here. But youths are coming in their hundreds and they are being turned away because they have no NRCs. We are appealing to government to bring the mobile insuance of NRCs here," said Mwila Mutale, Lubuto Ward councillor in an interview.

Godfridah Chulu

And Kitwe Deputy Mayor Godfridah Chulu, who recently toured registration centers in the city, has joined the call for the immediate issuance of mobile NRCs on the Copperbelt.

"The turn out across Kitwe is good but our worry is the young people who have no NRCs. They are eager to vote but they can not register. We appeal to the government to quickly move in and help the youths of Kitwe," said Mrs Chulu, who is also Lubwa Ward Councillor.

On Saturday, Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said he would liaise with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Electoral Commission of Zambia to find a solution to the delayed issuance of NRCs in some provinces.

The first phase of the voter registration exercise came to an end on Sunday and the following day,  registration officers moved to their next centers.

At each registration center, officers are spending 14 days in the hope of capturing 1. 6 million new voters to bring the total of registered voters in the voters’ register to 6.8 million people.