The Lusaka High Court has begun hearing the petition in which losing MMD candidate in the Mufumbwe Parliamentary by-election, Mulondwe Muzungu, has petitioned the election of UPND’s Elliot Kamondo, as area Member of Parliament.
And during hearing, the court heard how both cadres from the ruling MMD and opposition UPND were engaged in violence during campaigns in Mufumbwe.
Testifying before Lusaka High Court Judge, Philip Musonda, North Western Province Police officer Commanding, Fabian Katiba, told the court that he was forced to go to Mufumbwe from Solwezi where he is based following reports of violence at the camp.
Mr. Katiba narrated that according to his records, both the ruling MMD and the Opposition UPND ferried cadres from other parts of the country to Mufumbwe who were responsible for the violence.
Meanwhile, North Western Province Assistant Commissioner of Police, Lackson Sakala, failed to match some of his statements during examination and cross examination by lawyers Bonaventure Mutale and Eric Silwamba.
During examination by the respondent’s lawyer, Bonaventure Mutale, Mr. Sakala said it is in fact the UPND cadres that perpetrated the violence.
Mr Sakala also maintained during cross examination by the petitioner’s lawyer, Eric Silwamba, that the UPND perpetrated the violence and that the MMD cadres were merely reciprocating to the violence.
Mr. Sakala earlier told the court that the UPND cadres blocked the M8 road after police had fired live bullets to scare them away, but later denied having known the cadres who had blocked the road alleging that it was dark in the night.
Earlier, Judge Musonda turned down the application by the respondent’s lawyer that some parts of the petition by the MMD be struck off on grounds that they are on trial in a criminal case in Mufumbwe.
In his ruling, judge Musonda said the application is premature.
Meanwhile, Attorney General, Abyud Shonga Junior, has joined in the proceedings to represent the Zambia Police who are also alleged to have perpetrated the violence in Mufumbwe.
The matter has since been adjourned to tomorrow at 09:00 hours, to allow the Attorney General peruse through the commenced proceedings.
[ QFM ]
It is weel known to all that this particular election was mared with blood shed due to the Violence by party cadres. It doesn t matter which political party influenced the violence, but the fact is that as a result of the said violence, the election was not free and fair.
I don t intend to be prejudice on matters before the courts of law but this is the fact. We will wait for the due process of the law. I rest my case.
Witnesses should not be lying about what happened in Mufumbwe, just state the truth. These police officers are hiding some information