TWO suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres have been arrested for violence which left seven vehicles extensively damaged, Lusaka Province commissioner of police Lemmy Kajoba has said.
Mr Kajoba said about 20 armed and masked men suspected to be UPND cadres yesterday caused havoc at Chris Corner area in Lusaka’s Chilenje township violently attacking people, robbing shops and damaging property.
But UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said he had not yet received a report on the matter.
Mr Kajoba said the two suspected UPND cadres were arrested after the incident.
“This was proper aggravated robbery and we will treat them as criminals. They forced entry into people’s shops and robbed them. And the vehicles that were damaged had nothing to do with politics. These were mere citizens waiting to watch the Zambia/ Congo game,” he said.
Mr Kajoba said police will not allow anyone to instil fear in people.
He said police swiftly moved into the area and were by press time still patrolling to ensure there were no further skirmishes.
A check by the Daily Mail team found a string of damaged vehicles.
“I just came to visit a friend here when the UPND cadres descended on us. They have damaged my car, as you can see for yourself,” said a visibly shaken George Mungalu.
Another motorist whose car was extensively damaged was allegedly abducted and beaten up.
“I was abducted and badly beaten. They stole my phones and money. They further got my laptop in my car,” said Patrick Mukosha, who was seemingly in pain.
Another eyewitness only identified as Ruth said the UPND cadres also allegedly robbed a bakery of all the cashing of the day.
She however could not state how much money was stolen.
And Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Davies Chama said it is sad that the UPND has resorted to violence.
Mr Chama said the UPND wants to bring confusion but Zambians will not allow them.
“When we win, we will propose to ban violent political parties. I appeal to our members to remain calm even under this extreme provocation,” Mr Chama said.
And UPND cadres yesterday harassed a Zambia Daily Mail reporter who had gone to cover a press briefing at the party secretariat.
Nancy Siame was assigned to cover the press briefing which was scheduled to be addressed by party president Hakainde Hichilema at 13:30 hours but was later cancelled.
“When I reached the secretariat, I was told by Mr Charles Kakoma, the UPND spokesperson, that the briefing had been cancelled,” she said.
Ms Siame said she then went outside to call for transport from the office and as she was making a call, some cadres who were mobilising themselves in readiness to get on a bus followed her and interrogated her.
She said the cadres inquired who she was calling and why she was at their premises.
“Before I could speak, several cadres surrounded me and started harassing me. They tore my handbag and tried to grab my purse. They grabbed my phone, a blackberry, and scrolled through to check who I was calling,” Ms Siame said.
She said the cadres accused her of being a spy sent by the PF and efforts by the reporter to explain her mission at the premises were not entertained.
Ms Siame said the cadres dragged her and threatened to beat her but was rescued by Mr Kakoma.
Mr Kakoma retrieved her phone from the cadres and escorted her to the Zambia Daily Mail-branded vehicle, which the cadres threatened to destroy.
“I was gripped with fear and in the struggle to protect my purse from being stolen, two of my nails were broken and I sustained slight injuries,” she said.
Ms Siame said the cadres warned that they would deal with any journalist from the Daily Mail or any public media.
She reported the matter to police.
And when contacted for a comment, Mr Kakoma confirmed the incident and apologised on behalf of the UPND, saying Ms Siame was mistaken for a PF cadre.
What type of Govt do you expect from these people?
GBM RECEIVES A PRESIDENTIAL AND HEROES’ WELCOME IN NAKONDE, AS HE PROVES TO BE FAR MORE POPULAR THAN EDGAR LUNGU.
Yesterday (18th January 2015) close to Ten Thousand people accorded GBM a welcome befitting a seating Head of State when they turned up to witness GBM’s Political Rally in Nakonde. The five OP Officers and 20 Senior PF Members who attended GBM’s Nakonde Rally were surprised and shocked that the number of people who attended GBM/UPND’s rally was almost 4 time as many as compared to th that had earlier attended Edgar Lungu’s rally on 5th January 2015 and 10 times many than those that attended FDD’s Edith Nawakwi’s rally 2 weeks ago in Nakonde.
A lot of people including many high ranking PF district members were shocked to witness a sea of people which GBM was able to command and were heard admitting that HH will win the Tuesday Presidential Elections with a wide margin against his closest rival Edgar Lungu of PF
GBM has proved that he is more popular than Edgar Lungu going by the number of people that turned up for his first rally in nakonde. He arrived in Nakonde at Ntindi Secondary School Ground at exactly 17:15 hours and was surged by thousands of supporters who flashed the UPND symbol in solidarity with him.
And addressing thousands of Nakonde Residents this afternoon, GBM said that he decided to support and campaign for HH after the current PF President Edgar Lungu sidelined him in his campaigns. He told Nakonde Residents that he joined politics not to enrich himself but to serve the Zambian People and Nakonde People in particular. He said that when he resigned as the Defense Minister he did not suffer because he already had money which he made through his clean business. He condemned Edgar Lungu for thinking that PF belonged to him and sidelined founding members of the party. He added that Edgar Lungu is now feeling his wait and heat, no wander he is now panicking. He further told thousands of the residents that Edgar Lungu will lose the coming elections and appealed to Nakonde residents not to remain behind but be among the winning team of the In Coming President Hakainde Hichilema. He pledged to go back to Nakonde to thank the residents for the winning votes that they will give HH/UPND in Tuesday’s Presidential Polls.
And when word went round that GBM was in Nakonde, a large column of people started flocking to Ntindi School Ground, a school which is less than 1km away from Tanzania. It is the first time in since independence for the Helicopter to land at Ntindi School and residents felt honored by GBM’ss visit hence their pledge to vote for HH the candidate GBM is supporting.
And the PF Nakonde District veteran Political Analyst Dr. Royd Siwale admitted that GBM was 4 times popular in Nakonde than PF Presidential Candidate Edgar Chagwa Lungu. He wondered how thousands of people could attend GBM’s rallies compared to just a handful of the Nakonde Residents and those that were ferried from the neighboring Tanzania who attended Lungu’s rally on 5th January 2015.
He added that if the political rallies were the best means of analyzing the popularity of any presidential candidate, then HH is going to beat Edgar Lungu by getting 74% while Edgar Lungu will be languishing in 26%. In short in Nakonde Edgar Lungu as an individual is embarrassing not popular as compared to GBM and UPND/ HH in particular, but PF as a party is still considerably popular than Edgar Lungu himself no wander very few turned up for his rally as compared to thousands that turned up for GBM’s today Nakonde Rally.
Dear PF Youth Members;
I am sad to inform you that we are likely to lose tomorrow Tuesday (2.01,15)to HH/UPND but with a small margin, but this is mainly due to violence and infighting that our party has experience since the demise of our beloved President Micheal Chilufya Sata (MHSRIP).
According to the 95% of the opinion polls conducted by our Party-PF, Muvi TV, Zambia Eye, the Post Newspaper and other Reliable Non governmental Organizations, the UPND/HH is favorable to win tomorrow’s Presidential Elections.
To this effect, I would like to inform all the Zambian People that as Patriotic Front, we are ready to concead defeat in the event that we lose tomorrow’s elections. At the same time, on behalf of the PF, I would like to condemn to sentiments attributed to the MMD President Nervers Mumba in which he said he would petition the presidential elections because of his MPs that are supporting the PF and UPND, as PF we believe such sentiments are a recipe for anarchy. Dr. Nevers Mumba should emulate us the ruling party on our pledge to concead defeat in an event that the UPND/HH wins the Presidency.
As Zambians we should learn to support each other, regardless of whatever party wins.
The PF as a party is calling on the ECZ to ensure that its conduct free and fair elections to avoid post election violence. I am further calling on ECZ to investigate the rigging allegations as reported by the Zambian Watch Dog so that all suspicions are erased before it is too late. AS pf we are not interested in rigging elections, but that is not to say other members of our party cannot have such evil ideas. No wander we are calling on ECZ to ensure that any person who is going to mastermind rigging, is dealt with firmly. We would rather lose than winning a fraudulent and incredible elections.
Finally I call on PF not to to be demoralized by the fact that the PF is losing tomorrow’s elections, but should rather wake up early to vote to support our President Edgar Lungu.
CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI
PF YOUTH CHAIRMAN.
Thiz gangsters need to be given a good beatin
Let them face the law,they know that there leader will lose the elections tomorrow because they have failed to convince lusaka people and resort to violence.
Kakoma listen to yourself. Apologising and saying his Gangsters thought she was a PF cadre, so who tells you that you have to Harass or beat up PF Cadres. The level of panic in the UPND has reached a dangerous stage and Police must move in quickly and stop this nonsense.
Useless Party, Upnd Is Desperate For Nothing. Take Those Fools To Court And Later Jele. Bamakaka. Ifintu Ni Lungu.
The Upnd are a violent Party. They have blood on their hands. Remember they killed 2 people in Mapatzya and Livingstone. They are hungry for blood but we won’t allow them.
Abo Ba Upnd, Zambia Forward, Forward. Zambia Forward, Forward. Ninshi Baleya. Yaaa… Bapitilila. Edger Lungu Ashala Pa State House. Useless, Fipuba. Idiots.
And Hakainde keeps sing like a parrot.Panga,panga panga!!!!!!!
akainde ichilema will never be Zambian president, I know its a bitter pill 2 swallow but that’s that, KING of southern province Hechi Hechi will continue with his loosing legacy. Come wednesday E.C Lungu is new state house occupant…….
UPND kuwayawaya fye
I attended the so called Rally and am very sorry with u who are deceived that it was a mamoth, my dear it was a late down, even GBM and Felix Mutati was terribly disappointed thats why they didn’t spend more than 6 minutes. Ala TEFINTU
Unbelievable, the prostitute said no to illicit sex instead of her self.I find Ho. Chishimba Kambwili’s remarks on tomorrows’ presidential election said with ‘impunity’ because he can’t be so sure that PF is loosing tomorrow.I can’t hear what he is doing, he is too loud!
UPND must cool down..politics is a game cadres will machete each other like sugarcane. The nxt day u wake up u find ur boss (charles kakoma) has joined pf..see wat GBM and Mutati are doing nw…careful!!!!!