OPPOSITION United Party for National Development (UPND) members allegedly beat up a chief and his wife in Luampa on Friday as they clashed with members of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) ahead of by-elections in the Western Province district.
The UPND cadres allegedly also forced Luampa MMD Member of Parliament Josephine Limata to flee in fear of being beaten.
Chief Mwanatete has said that the UPND cadres attacked him and his wife.
The traditional leader said the cadres were allegedly looking for Ms Limata but they never found her and so they turned their wrath on him and his wife.
The incident happened around 16:00 hours on Friday.
“Luckily, Ms Limata managed to escape. The gang, after failing to locate her, turned their anger on my wife and me, and started beating us. It was difficult to escape because they were so many,” he said.
He said the cadres, who were chanting UPND slogans, warned that they would not tolerate people who seemed to be supporting the Patriotic Front and President Sata in Luampa district and the entire Western Province.
Chief Mwanatete said the UPND cadres were preparing for a visit of their president Hakainde Hichilema, who was expected to address a rally at Luampa Basic School.
Ms Limata said that following the incident, she is now living in fear.
“I am here in my village on vacation. I have been here for a while but on Friday, the cadres came and attacked my chief, his wife and five other people. I sought refuge before they could get to me,” she said.
The clash between the UPND and the PF has resulted in property worth K30,000 being damaged.
The clash, which took place at a bridge linking Mangango to Luampa district, also left one suspected PF cadre injured.
Western Province Police Commissioner Lombe Kamukoshi confirmed the incident.
“We received an assault report from a man identified as Leonard Chisenga from Lusaka’s Kuomboka Township, who sustained deep cuts on his head and swollen legs. Mr Chisenga is admitted at Luampa Mission Hospital and is in a stable condition,” Ms Kamukoshi said.
She said three other people are believed to have been injured although they had not formally reported the incident to the police.
Ms Kamukoshi said the second report was received from a man identified as Martin Limata of Luampa district, whose two vehicles, a Toyota Harrier and Isuzu, were also damaged.
Machetes and sticks are believed to have been used during the clash.
But UPND vice-president for politics Canisius Banda has accused the PF of fuelling violence in Western Province ahead of the Mangango parliamentary by-election.
Dr Banda said his party does not condone any form of violence, accusing the PF of fuelling violence in Mangango and Batoka by intimidating the opposition.
“I have not received any report from Luampa but as for Mangango and Batoka, violence is being fuelled by PF officials,” Dr Banda said.
He said it is unfortunate that some UPND members might have used force against one of the provincial officials who was allegedly using a government vehicle.
PF Mangango campaign manager Obvious Mwaliteta said the UPND is practising campaigns of intimidation, tribalism, regionalism and violence.
Mr Mwaliteta said PF has identified suspected UPND cadres causing violence in Luampa.
“We have identified some UPND cadres that were hired to cause havoc in Luampa. They came from Bauleni in Lusaka and some are from Livingstone. These cadres also attacked Ms Limata in Luampa,” he said.
He said the PF will, however, try to stick to the code of conduct in its campaigns and will not be intimidated by any violence being perpetrated by the UPND.
Mr Mwaliteta, who described the campaigns in Mangango as peaceful, was however quick to add that he feared the violence from Luampa might spread to Mangango as well.
Limata is MMD MP? What is she doing campaigning for the PF? It could be MMD Cadres that want to kachingwe her! I think Ministers should not be allowed to go and campaign because those are full time govt employees! Mwaliteta is getting a salary for doing nothing in his office.
LT is a full fledged PF vuvuzela. Any they have been PF vuvuzela since 2011. They are doing a good job by deceiving PF while allowing opposition members to blog and attack the ruling party.
Those cadres from Bauleni and livingstone were hired by Mwaliteta. UPND has all its cadres from within magongo. No need to import cadres. A good lesson is being taught to PF that bribes do not work for Zambians.
I am shocked, so PF is finished thats why they have to import cadres where ever there is a bye election.
SATA is planning to defect to UPND. He was heard telling his confidants and handlers that UPND is good party run by intelligent and disciplined members. He said he has no problem with HH being president because thats what was in the pact.(Thats Sata hallucinating)
its NOT UPND,,,, LOZIs dont like Sata and his PF,,,, Infact they Hate Sata and his PF to the grave!!!!!!!!
THE PROVERB SAYS :IF U CHEAT A LOZI NEVER U VISIT THAT LOZI U RISK LOSING YOUR LIFE
@Ndobo @JUDGE
You are absolutely right. Its just that people do not want PF any more, period.
In Livingstone , UPND was accused of having killed Mwaliteta’s servant. In Rufunsa, the same happened. In both cases UPND was vindicated. In this case also I have no doubt that its the PF behind this attack in an effort to tarnish UPND’s name. The truth will come out, just like in all the other cases.
Never cross a lozi’s path and live to see another day. Remember these are part of a warrior tribe ejected by Shaka.
Ba zaba ng’otola ba PF ku magongo.
I am reliably informed that Ndobo is unemployed and he is fed by his wife
Chachine Snipper chachine. Iwe ndobo who elected you as spokesperson for Lozis?
Mapatizya formula !! What do you expect when you have William Banda as special advisor to the president ? UPND is a party of thugs.
Those are Mbundas, Chokwes and Nkoyas. Tebakwangala nabo. They will beat you up if you misbehave.
@Saulosi
Mwaliteta ‘s bribes did not work. The same support UPND is enjoying in magongo, will be replicated even in Eastern and North western province.
In the light of what is happening, is UPND a regional party? Clearly it is not. UPND is sweeping Western, North western, Central, 90% CB , Eastern, Luapula, 50% Northern, and 50% muchinga provinces.
@saulosi
Its now magongo formula. In katuba it was Katuba formula. These formulae will be evolving in each every part of Zambia.
UPND and HH are the only hope and help Zambians are looking forward to. PF’s ubufi has started to haunt them.
If a by election was to be held in Lusaka or any major town today, UPND would simply beat PF hands down.
PF are thugs, so to make them know and understand its sometimes necessary for UPND to speak the PF ‘s thuggish language.
You poke UPND wapya. Leave UPND alone, they are harmless peace loving people.
Even Sata is now endorsing HH as the next president when he told his MCC that he has no problem with HH being president. Very soon Sata will defect to UPND like he did in the 90s when he defected tp MMD from UNIP.
@We r all in Govt to eat….!!!
Hahahahaha they Kachingwed her.
Coming to the issue lets b careful as a NATION, PEOPLE r NOT HAPPY WITH THS GOVT & TRIBALISM Mr Sata ( NOT those appointed) has practised. Ths can lead to Civil Strife even bo Inonge & other Lozis r NOT HAPPY at all they r just PRETENDING TO BE HAPPY.
We ARE KICKING out ths govt by or even b4 2016.
LT at it again, Vuvuzela for PF. PF are just having it tough to convince people in mangango and are now even burning bridges. Government have not said anything about that. There is no way PF can win because they failed to deliver on the barotse agreement.
Ah tribalism, regionalism. How many regions are in Kaoma?. Fed up with such cheap justifications for an election Manager to fail to perform.
Can the Police confirm weather the Chisanga wanted to burn the bridge or not.If it is true then the Police has become a useless unit,thus,people will resort to taking their own laws in thier own hands as they have no hope in Police as the Police is now the extended hand of the PF.
What is the job of the police? To watch thugs intimidating and beating people? The UPND thugs who assaulted the chief and his wife must be apprehended immediately and locked up pending prosecution. No bail conditions. These are heinous crimes for which the entire UPND leadership should be committed to jail. HH is a very dull person. You mean you can only make your party popular by causing violence around so that people come to know about UPND as they scamper. This is being uncivilized. Practicing politics of tribalism to solicit sympathy and support predates early stone age era. No wonder UPND under civilised Mazoka thrived and was embraced countrywide. UPND under HH is a small closed shop.
ECZ should be blamed for the escalating levels in Zambia during elections, they have the authority to ban violent parties from elections but they are just inefficient and ineffective. The police equally share the blame for not being professional and effective. Both PF and UPND are a major concern of violence in 2016 and Christians need to pray. MMD is not an exception either because of their violent past and statements they have issued of self defense. At least PF never showed their violence before 2011 even when provoked by MMD, but UPND have started violence even before getting into power, one wonders what the levels of violence will become after they get into power.
HH can become a good President based upon his economic background and business skills but with these levels of violence Zambians may have to think twice. May the peaceful party win even if it is a small party. God bless Zambia and all peaceful parties and peace makers.
Although UPND under Mazoka and UPND under HH have same acronyms, they mean different things.
Mazoka ‘s UPND was United Party for National Development. HH’s UPND is Under-five Party No Democracy
Ba PF muzanya manzi kuyambila lelo.
@ Inkono,7,8.
Zoonda uzalema and chizayamba kubaba day in day out. If Mazoka was around you wud ve labelled him the same.
UPND is a Productive & a peaceful Party & its winning the Coming 2016 Elections.
@ Anderson Chisala, I would never have said anything bad against Mazoka. He was a very good man, devoid of tribalism. Maybe, his secondary school stint at Mungwi Secondary School in the heart of Bembaland had a bearing on his civil orientation. This is not to say those who went to school in the heart of Tongaland are not civil, no. There are many people from there who are very very good and their orientation is exceptionally progressive.
“We received an assault report from a man identified as Leonard Chisenga from Lusaka’s Kuomboka Township, who sustained deep cuts on his head and swollen legs. Mr Chisenga is admitted at Luampa Mission Hospital and is in a stable condition,” Ms Kamukoshi said.
NOW WHAT WAS THIS SO CALLED LEONARD CHISENGA FROM KUOMBOKA IN LUSAKA DOING IN MANGANGO AT THIS PEAK OF CAMPAIGNS. THIS JUST SHOWS THAT PF HAS IMPORTED CADRES INTO MANGANGO TO CAUSE VIOLENCE.
UP and DOWN Cow dung Party is violent and Zambians will never give them chance to rule.I think PF and MMD are better Political parties.In Batoka they beat up innocent people and in Kaoma they have beaten a Chief……Its a curse a they should be rejected at any cost.
Canisius Banda is a Professional who made a terrible mistake joining a tribal and violent Party.Instead of supporting these violent mapatizya chaps,u better think twice and join PF for you to contribute effectively my brother.Us easterners are wise and its unfortunate you are on a wrong side and you may never see Parliament if u don’t make up your mind now.Mark my words in your diary today and come 2016 you will remember me Sir.
In Monze during the Lwindi ceremony,it was agreed that no one should be in any political regalia but UP and DOWN in the presence of their under five wore theirs to the amazement of all of us who attended.They even openly started hurling insults to the guest of honour.I think it is due to inferiority complex cos what they always do is contrary to what normal political parties do.How do you honestly beat up an innocent Chief if you want votes ? If the people of Kaoma will vote Cow dung,then there is something wrong with them and gvt shud find a way to teach them a lesson…..its easy.
ECZ are you saying again that you are impartial ? Violence and Corruption if left unchecked will wreck this country…..we shouldn’t be tolerating such rubbish.
@ Inkonto
In short u r saying people go to the Might Hilcrest in Livingstone either & become TONGALISED !! ANSWER IS NO.
Lets FACE REALITY AS ZAMBIANS. HH is a calm, brilliant, ADMINISTRATIVELY ferocious guy. THE only DIFFERENCY with MAZOKA is : MAZOKA was a ‘deadly Lion’- ASK Late FTJ-( Reason he came out PUT A TRIBAL TAG ON MAZOKA-UPND to daint the image). Also another LION WAS Dean Mung’omba.
By God’s mercies dont BRING TRIBAL ISSUES in Important discussions. I LOVE my Tonga MUM & my Namwanga dad. BUT TRUTH IS, I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT CREDIBLE CANDIDATES either, Tonga, Bemba, Chewa etc…..! Right NOW its ONLY HH & Chipimo is trying too.
i now observed that some zambians are the perpetuators of all forms of political violence exhibited across the nation by not being; logical, critical,analytical,sympathetical,emperical,experimental,viable & dynamental.this is gobbledygook.lets coment to unite & develop & not to antagonize one another.call a spade ”a spade”
UPND is ever right but remember morgan of zimbabwe and odinga of kenya who were more popular than HH
whether its PF,MMD.UPND violence is violence and it shouldnt be entertained. and it will be very unwise and folish to justfy unjustfiable actions of violence by anyone regardless of the perpetrators involved.greediness,selfishness biterness among other things must not take the center stage in our politics.only a fool will think that he can win un election through violence.why fighting among ourselves like animals? when we are one and the same.
lets forgive and pray for UPND caders. God shud open their eyes to see that its their duty to respect every human regardless of tribe and political afiliation
We enjoy reading news items on Lusaka Times online . However, the management of this online news outlet are strongly advised to report responsibly on events that recently occurred in Mangango.
We are perplexed as to why the Police are mute when the PF goes violent against the peaceful villagers. Violence in Mangango is a culture by PF thugs orchestrated by Kabimba.
If PF claims to have gained national character for being popular country wide, WHY DID KABIMBA RESORT TO DISPATCHING “LEAONARD CHISENGA” (Sranger), resident of Kuomboka Township in Lusaka TO GO AND DESTROY A useful BRIDGE IN MANGANGO?
When local residents get enraged by this barbarism, PF points accusing fingers at UPND. God forbid.This is a repeat of the Rufunsa saga. PF has lost in the entire Western Province
Well this is an own goal for the violent party involved! Is this …like ‘the season of the witch?’ We thought PF were the offending party but looks like other parties are taking them on. It’s disconcerting; but I wonder if this is just counter terrorism. This party already intimidates voters for being uneducated for voting PF/Sata in the last election. The truth is this violence will happen on Election Day too, but this violence will be for anyone voting for PF. In 2016, We are going to count that election result over and over again, region by region…..THEN once the violent party is assured they have lost…..it’ll be sour grapes and burning and looting! I’m not looking in a crystal ball, it’s ready to deduce this from the facts in the above article and other new…
Lusaka Times is the most objective online publication.Regardless of any topical issue,they report without bias.Look at the one which is ant Sata and PF,every day they portray the Cow dung party as doing fine and not any of the other Parties in the Country.What kind of reporting is that ? full of hate for an individual…..what kind of journalism is that ? Ask your friends stand up for Zambia did they succeed ?Even yourselves will be shocked in 2016…..Only LT is professional.
pliz spare LT from this nonse of caling them uprofesional and un ethical in their reporting,at least we can boast of LT for being objective in their reporting.y shud UPND cry like babies wen a wrong thing is reported? y rushing insult on LT instead of taming your thugs, go to ZWD if you want favours.as for LT kip it up and thumbs up for your gud work.
I just want to give credit to Lusaka Times. Keep up your balanced way of reporting. Zambian watch dogs are very immature in the way they report. They are always against PF. In their reporting they always refer to President sata as “THE AILING DECTECTOR” and to PF caders as”PF THUGS”. This makes me discouraged even before I start reading. keep it up LT!! Zambians are now more enlightened and they can descern lies from the truth.