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Police Warn Cadres, 9 Arrested During Campaigns

Police have warned that anyone perpetrating violence in today’s Lubansenshi and Solwezi West Parliamentary by-elections will be dealt with sternly.
Meanwhile, nine people have been arrested during the period of campaigns in Lubansenshi Constituency in Luwingu District, Northern Province.
The warning comes in the wake of confusion in Lubansenshi Constituency where UPND cadres led by party vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba used pepper spray on Patriotic Front (PF) supporters at Luwingu main market on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Charity Chanda said anyone opting to carry out any form of electoral violence prior, during and after the voting day would be dealt with firmly and in accordance with the provisions of the law.In a statement released in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Chanda said Police had reinforced manpower in both constituencies and stepped up patrols to handle any volatile situation that might arise.
Voters in Lubansenshi and those in Solwezi West would be going to the polls today to elect new members of parliament.
The campaigns had generally been peaceful save for a few incidences particularly in Lubansenshi where gangs from rival political parties fought amid gunshots in Luwingu resulting in the injury of one person on Tuesday, this week.
“We would also like to assure the electorate in the two constituencies that officers will be at hand to ensure that they exercise their democratic right freely without any form of intimidation or threats.
“We expect all political parties to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and that Police officers will receive maximum cooperation from all the stakeholders during and after the by-elections,” Ms Chanda said.
Ms Chanda urged members of the public to report anyone suspected of abrogating the provisions of the electoral code of conduct to the nearest Police officer or electoral stakeholder.
A group of UPND cadres led by Mr Mwamba unleashed the pepper spray at a group of youths that were found dancing to PF campaign songs at Luwingu main market.
The incident occurred when Mr Mwamba widely known as GBM, and his group strayed into an area where a PF campaign truck for the Lubansenshi parliamentary by-election was playing party anthems.
The former Kasama Central MP stuck out his head from the confines of the car he was in and booed at a group of youths that were dancing to the songs.
He was, however, met with a rude shock as the youths mostly from the surrounding areas booed him back with some shouting that he was too old to be exchanging words with them.
The youths picked up stones and pelted the UPND entourage forcing one of the opposition party members to unleash pepper stray at the growing crowd to allow them beat a hasty retreat.
Acting Northern Province Police Chief Luckson Sakala said officers had been to the area to verify the fracas but calm had returned by the time the police Land Cruiser laden with officers arrived at the market.
“It’s normal to have such happenings during election campaigns. The situation is calm as officers were sent to verify the report,” he said.
Mr Sakala also revealed that nine people had been arrested during the campaign period with others already appearing in court.
Two of the nine had been charged with illegal possession of a fire arm, one for unlawful possession of national registration and voter’s cards and six for assault.
Apart from the PF who were fielding George Mwamba in Lubansenshi and UPND’s Patrick Mucheleka, the Lubasenshi seat is also being contested by MMD’s Gabriel Mulenga and Daniel Mubanga of Rainbow Party while Charles Chimumbwa is contesting as an independent.
Three candidates are vying for the Solwezi West seat and they are Martin Mbaya of PF, John Njombi of UNIP and UPND’s Teddy Kasonso.

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Posted by on September 24, 2015. Filed under CRIME. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

9 Responses to Police Warn Cadres, 9 Arrested During Campaigns

  1. club zero Reply

    September 24, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Vote UPND for a better zambia,ifintu fyalula

    • Ndanje Kahks Reply

      September 24, 2015 at 2:15 pm

      Too late for campaign, I have already cast my vote for PF

  2. kakolwe Reply

    September 24, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    Ati “you are too old to be exchanging words with us!!”
    That is blasphemy on GBM. The youths should just have said, ‘you are too fat to be peeking through the windows.

  3. GIFT Reply

    September 24, 2015 at 2:20 pm

    THIS STORY TUMFWEKO IS SERIOUS ALLEGATION.

  4. OBRINE Reply

    September 24, 2015 at 3:20 pm

    THESE YOUTHS HAVE NO RESPECT 4 THEIR VEEP COME 2016.

  5. ba guy Reply

    September 24, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    @kakolwe ati” you are too fat to be peeking through the Windows..na true!.lol.how are you my brother.

  6. Hello Haters Reply

    September 24, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    UPND is a peaceful party, and the police have just concocted this story from their fictional archives, and he indeed there was that fracas any sane individual would recommend the group that uses pepper spray as opposed to guns the way PFool cadres do it, charity and your madam IG, i propose pepper spray as opposed to guns during campaigns.

  7. kayula Reply

    September 24, 2015 at 7:24 pm

    This is how UPND will end. They will make noise move to violence and extinct.The best part of it is that they will remain in the history of this country like mushala, miloni brothers, kapwepwe and others.Bane rest in peace and we shall remember you for giving us a good run

  8. ex-pf Reply

    September 24, 2015 at 7:50 pm

    For Micheal sata so loved the country that he gave his only weak son that whosoever shall vote for him will perish and have everladtnig job losses, loadshedding and lose the value of the Kwacha. Ifintu nafilungula!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kaloba sana!!!!! Disappointed for sure

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