There was confusion in Kabwe’s council chamber when police stormed a full council meeting in an attempt to arrest immediate past Deputy Mayor Kayombo Mihova as Deputy Mayoral elections were about to start this morning.

The police who tried to whisper to Mr Mihova were ordered out of the meeting by Mayor Patrick Chishala following a point of order raised by Mr Mihova.

“I’m being disturbed by a police officer who is sitting behind as he is whispering, I’m failing to concentrate on proceedings of the chamber,” Mr Mihova said.

The mayor immediately ordered the police to match out and close the door saying it was not in order to disturb the proceedings of the council.

“You should know that you are supposed to stop fidgeting and talking immediately when the mayor walks in the chamber. Now leave, or else I will send my officers (council police) to force you out of here,” said Mr Chishala.

But shortly after the police officer left, another one walked in whispering to the mayor that he needed to pick a named councillor from the chamber, a situation which angered the mayor.

“We are discussing serious issues of development, you cannot just walk in here and disturb. You will have to wait till we are done with the meeting. Can you leave this chamber now,” he ordered.

The council meeting was later aborted due to the disturbances.

And Mr Mihova was later arrested and detained at Chowa police post.

A check at the Chowa police post found Mr Mihova being escorted to a holding cell.

Central Province Police Commissioner Charity Munganga could not be reached for a comment.

Meanwhile, Kuwaya Ward councillor Wesley Phiri has scooped the position of Kabwe deputy mayor after beating his only rival Haambo Mudaala with two votes in the deputy mayoral election which was held at a full council meeting this morning.

Mr Phiri of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) got 15 votes while Mr Mudaala got 13 of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND).

Returning officer Jovax Ngoma announced that a total of 29 votes were cast out of which one was a spoilt vote.