Zambia: Rioting erupts in Kitwe September 24 /update 1

Event

Dozens of residents of Kitwe's Buchi compound (Copperbelt province) rioted and clashed with police on Monday, September 24, after a police officer reportedly shot a young person working at a car wash in the area. The rioters burned tires on Kazembe Road and the Kitwe-Chingola Dual Carriageway, obstructing the thoroughfares; the protesters also threw rocks at police officers attempting to clear the roadways who, in response, launched teargas at the rioters. As of Tuesday, September 25, the routes have been cleared and normal traffic has resumed.

Similar riots and clashes between protesters and security forces are possible in Kitwe in the coming weeks. Localized traffic disruptions are to be expected near demonstration sites.

Context

Protests and rioting also broke out in the Chimwemwe area of Kitwe (Copperbelt province) on September 21 after a Chinese national reportedly shot a local teenage girl in the ankle by accident. Protests and riots erupted as residents initially believed the shooting had been fatal, with participants looting the Chinese national's shop before being dispersed by security forces; the rioters then reportedly damaged another Chinese-owned market in the same area, according to local reports.

Advice

Individuals in Kitwe are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and riots, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.