Kasama Mayor-elect Peter Yuda has been formally arrested and charged with one count of criminal trespass under Section 306 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
His legal representative says the formal arrest was effected at precisely 15:54 hours today, after police earlier picked up Mr. Yuda at Wamulungwe Lodge, where he was addressing a meeting, and took him to Kasama Central Police Station.
The charge relates to an alleged incident at the residence of Northern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Beauty Undi Phiri on August 14, 2026.
Ms. Phiri had previously alleged that Mr. Yuda was among individuals who went to her residence on the said date over claims that she was keeping pre-marked ballot papers.
Mr. Yuda remains in police custody as investigations continue, while his spokesperson Raymond Chola has questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest, saying the mayor-elect was not issued with a police call-out.
Mr. Chola has described the apprehension as a political attack and alleged that police officers were operating under duress.
He says the defence team presented the necessary sureties for bail, but police indicated that the required modalities had not been completed and that the matter would be addressed tomorrow at around 08:00 hours.
By Kalombe Kapambwe
