The Luanshya Magistrates’ Court has fined 57 UPND cadres arrested for conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace after they admitted the charge.
Luanshya police arrested and charged the 57 cadres for the subject offence on Wednesday as confusion erupted following the detention of UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Mwamba.
The cadres told magistrate Dominic Makachila on Thursday night that they love their party and leadership.
Lawyers Tom Shamakamba and Chimuka Maggubwi represented the UPND cadres, who appeared before magistrate Makachila.
When asked by the court why they conducted themselves in such a manner, one of the accused said they were doing it for the love of the party leadership.
“It is for the love of the party leadership that we follow. So when they are being interrogated, we follow them,” the accused said.
And magistrate Makachila convicted and fined the group K12 each, which was settled by the defence lawyers and the cadres were later released.
The case, which started around 17:00 hours, was only closed at 21:32 hours.